# Accident 20170916019519A: Mooney M20C, North Branford, CT, September 16, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 16, 2017, 13:15 local time
- Place: North Branford, CT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.3614° N, 72.7444° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3614&lon=-72.7444&mi=10
- Aircraft: N53CP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53CP-2021-01-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20C (registry code 5870208, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17FA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA327) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170916019519A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE FROM ROBINSON AIRPORT (4B8) IN PLAINVILLE CT. TO GABRESKI AIRPORT (FOK) ON LONG ISLAND N.Y.

AT APPROIMATELY 1:00PM LOCAL TIME THE NEIGHTBORS IN THE AREA OF THE CRASH REPORTED HEARING A LOUD THUD.

SOMETIME LATER A RESIDENT WENT ON A WALK AND LOCATED THE CRASH ALONG A HIKING TRAIL WEST OF 580 WEST STREET, GUILFORD, CT.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND IN A NOSE DOWN POSITION, THE RIGHT WING WAS SEPARATED IN TWO PIECES APPROIMATELY 200 FT FROM THE AIRCRAFT IN A WOODED AREA. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE LANDING GEAR WAS IN THE DOWN POSITION.

THE PROPELLER DIDN'T SHOW THAT IT WAS ROTATING.

BOTH PILOT AND THE PASSENGER WERE DECLARED DECEASED BY EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. BOTH WERE REMOVED BY THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER FROM FARMINGTON

CONNECTICUT.

THE NTSB INVESTAGTION FOUND A BLOCKAGE IN THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE. A PIECE OF RAG WAS FOUND BLOCKING THE MAIN FEED TO THE ENGINE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA17FA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA327), Sep 16, 2017: Mooney M20C (N53CP), North Branford, CT, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as the result of foreign object debris in the fuel selector valve. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's selection of a low cruising…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.