# NTSB ATL04CA165: Mooney M20F, N9663M, Brewton, AL, August 2, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 2, 2004, 09:16 local (14:16 UTC)
- Place: Brewton, AL
- Coordinates: 31.105278, -87.072219
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1053&lon=-87.0722&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 59835
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04CA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59835/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA165

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power (non-mechanical) for undetermined reasons. A factor was the collision with a fence during emergency landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

The airplane was in cruise flight at 4,500 feet mean sea level when the engine suddenly stopped producing power, and the propeller wind-milled. The pilot's attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. During approach to land in a pasture, the airplane struck treetops, touched down in tall weeds, and then rolled over rough, uneven ground and collided with a barbed-wire fence. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the wings, landing gear, and fuselage. Fuel was observed in the wing tanks. An engine start was performed using the cockpit engine controls, and the engine was observed to start and idle. Engine run up procedures were performed with no abnormalities observed with the engine, engine controls, and accessories. No evidence of mechanical malfunction was observed.

## Factual narrative

On August 2, 2004, at 0916 central daylight time, a Mooney M20F, N9663M, registered to Aurora Borealis, Inc., and operated by the commercial pilot, landed in a field and struck a fence following a loss of engine power in the vicinity of Brewton, Alabama. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a visual flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot and the passenger reported no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed the Destin - Fort Walton Beach Airport, Destin, Florida, at 0845 on August 2, 2004.

According to the pilot, the flight was in cruise flight at 4,500 feet mean seal level en route to Indianola, Mississippi, when the engine suddenly stopped producing power, and the propeller wind-milled. The pilot obtained nearest airport information from his GPS, notified air traffic controllers of the problem, and established a glide toward the Brewton Municipal Airport, Brewton, Alabama, which was 10 miles away. The pilot's attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. As the airplane descended, the pilot realized it would not make the distance to the airport, and he located a pasture for landing. The pilot stated he guided the airplane through the treetops on the north end of the pasture, and the airplane touched down in tall weeds. During landing roll over rough, uneven ground, the airplane rolled beneath power lines, crossed a dirt road, and collided with a barbed-wire fence near the treeline on the south end of the pasture.

Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the wings, landing gear, and fuselage. Fuel was observed in the wing tanks. An engine start was performed using the cockpit engine controls, and the engine was observed to start and idle. Engine run up procedures were performed with no abnormalities observed with the engine, engine controls, and accessories. No evidence of mechanical malfunction was observed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9663M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9663M-2011-12-27), registration cancelled 2011-12-27, S/N 670240, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Mooney M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 670240
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stephen Spencer Wooten
- Registered owner: Aurora Borealis, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KDTS, Destin, FL
- Destination: KIDL, Indianola, MS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: K12J, Brewton Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 700 total, 350 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20040802018849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040802018849A), Aug 2, 2004: Mooney M20F, Brewton, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported that after leaving destin airport climbed to 4,500 feet (his cruising altitude) he trimmed the aircraft, closed the cowl flaps, reduced…

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.

---
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.