# Accident 20230212001079A: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, Lakeway, TX, February 12, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 12, 2023, 09:51 local time
- Place: Lakeway, TX
- Airport: Lakeway Airpark
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.3632° N, 97.9953° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3632&lon=-97.9953&mi=10
- Aircraft: N304MA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N304MA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20K (registry code 5870220, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-360 series (registry code 17019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20K
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230212001079A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 12, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 0930 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A MOONEY M20K, DEPARTED KESTREL AIR PARK, TEXAS (1T7) FOR OUTLAW FIELD AIRPORT, TENNESSEE (KCKV). SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE, WHILE TRAVELING IN A NORTHEASTERN DIRECTION, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE AND DEGRADED ENGINE PERFORMANCE, TO WHICH THE PILOT IN COMMAND TURNED TO A SOUTHEASTERN HEADING, BACK TOWARDS KESTREL AIR PARK (1T7). HOWEVER, DUE TO CONTINUED PERFORMANCE DEGRADATION, HE THEN DIVERTED NORTHWEST TOWARD LAKEWAY AIRPARK AIRPORT, TEXAS (3R9).

WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 16, AT LAKEWAY AIRPARK AIRPORT (3R9), THE ENGINE QUIT. IN ORDER TO AVOID IMPACTING HOUSES THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A GOLF COURSE, LOCATED JUST NORTHEAST OF THE RUNWAY. WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH, AVOIDING PEOPLE PRESENT ON THE GOLF COURSE, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TOP OF A SET A TREES JUST PRIOR TO TOUCH DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT THEN WENT THRU A WOOD FENCE, BEING SUPPORTED BY METAL POLES, STRUCK A CONCRETE STRUCTURE, TURNED APPROXIMATELY 135 DEGREES, AND CAME TO REST WITH THE NOSE FACING NORTHWEST, AGAINST A LARGE GENERATOR JUST TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE RUNWAY.

EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A HOLE IN THE #6 PISTON, AND THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION FOUND.

## 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 CEN23LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA107), Feb 12, 2023: Mooney M20 (N304MA), Lakeway, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to detonation and preignition in the No. 6 cylinder.

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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