# Accident 20221127019219A: Mooney M20J, Gaithersburg, MD, November 27, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 27, 2022, 17:30 local time
- Place: Gaithersburg, MD
- Airport: Montgomery County Airpark
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1844° N, 77.1886° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1844&lon=-77.1886&mi=10
- Aircraft: N201RF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N201RF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,475 total, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA071) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221127019219A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE TO GAI ON AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN. HE SHOWED SUFFICIENT DIFFICULTIES WITH GETTING ON A CORRECT HEADING ENROUTE THAT HIS CONTROLLER FOUND IT NECESSARY TO EXPLAIN TO AN ADJACENT SECTOR THAT THE PILOT WAS NAVIGATIONALLY CHALLENGED AND TURNING "ALL OVER THE PLACE". WHEN HE WAS CLEARED FOR THE RNAV 14 APPROACH AND HAD CHANGED TO THE CTAF FREQUENCY HE DESCEND FAR ENOUGH BELOW MINIMUMS TO CAUSE A LOW ALTITUDE ALERT. THE CONTROLLER TRIED TO REACH HIM BUT RECEIVED NO REPLY.

THE PILOT STATED WHEN INTERVIEWED THAT ONCE HE HAD GROUND CONTACT HE CEASED TO WATCH HIS ALTIMETER AND FLEW AS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN GROUND CONTACT.

THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE WIRES IN A HIGH TENSION LINE AND THEN LODGED IN ONE OF THE TOWERS OF AN ADJACENT HIGH TENSION LINE AT ABOUT THE 100 FOOT AGL LEVEL,  APPROXIMATELY 1.2NM FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD.

THE APPROACH WAS BEING MADE IN IMC WEATHER WITH GAI REPORTING A 200 FOOT CEILING AND 1 1/4 SM VISIBILITY.

KGAI 272156Z AUTO VRB04KT 1 1/4SM BR OVC002 11/11 A2945 RMK AO2 SLP987 T01060106 WAS THE LAST METAR BEFORE THE POWER LOSS RESULTING FROM THE ACCIDENT.

THE PILOT INITIALLY REPORTED THE CRASH TO THE LOCAL 911 OPERATOR BY CELL PHONE. HE AND HIS PASSENGER WERE TREATED AT A LOCAL TRAUMA CENTER WITH SERIOUS INJURIES.

## 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 ERA23LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA071), Nov 27, 2022: Mooney M20J (N201RF), Gaithersburg, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s visual flight below published altitude minimums, which resulted in collision with a powerline tower structure.

## Other reports on N201RF (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20060108001159I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060108001159I), Jan 8, 2006: Mooney M20J (N201RF), Gaithersburg, MD, Minor damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] ^ stated that while doing touch and goes, he raised the gear handle instead of the flaps on takeoff. The landing gear…

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.

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