- Date
- November 27, 2000, 09:53 local (14:53 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Myers, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9198VMooney M20E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 19, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20001127024819A
- Case key
- 51044
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Fuel system contamination that resulted in fuel starvation.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff the engine failed. The pilot attempted to return to the runway but landed in a field short of the airport, striking a cow and substantially damaging the airplane. Examination of the engine found water and other contaminants in the fuel injector inlet screen.
Factual narrative
On November 27, 2000, at 0953 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20E, N9198V, lost engine power and collided with the ground shortly after takeoff from the Fort Myers Page Airport, in Fort Myers, Florida. The airplane was operated by the owner/pilot under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and instrument flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a IFR flight plan was filed for the cross country flight to Lawrenceville, Georgia. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was originating from Fort Myers, Florida, at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff at about 1,000 feet, the engine lost power. "It did not cough, sputter, or run rough, it just lost all power". The propeller continued to windmill. The pilot attempted to return to the runway but landed in a field short of the airport. The airplane collided with a cow during the emergency landing.
Examination of the engine found water and other contaminants in the fuel injector inlet screen.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9198V
- Reported as
- Mooney M20E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 690042
- Airframe hours
- 2,823
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A1A, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James P. Erler
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 12, 2000 · 68 hours before
- Departed
- FMY
- Destination
- LZU · Lawrenceville, GA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- FMY · Page Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,032 total · 253 in this make and model · 950 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FMY
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.