# NTSB ATL81FA070: Mooney M20K, N231CJ, Churchville, MD, May 3, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: May 3, 1981
- Place: Churchville, MD · CHURCHVILLE, MD
- Location: 39.5612° N, 76.2455° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Churchville, MD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5612&lon=-76.2455&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125267
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA070
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA070

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2081   81/5/3    CHURCHVILLE,MD      MOONEY M20K         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 56, 4500
        TIME - 2030                    N231CJ              PX-  0  3  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 800 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HARFORD COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LYNCHBURG,VA                DANBURY,CT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: SUBSTANDARD QUALITY CONTROL
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: PISTON,PISTON RINGS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OIL STARVATION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - RAN OFF END OF RUNWAY
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        REMARKS- HOLE IN SIDEWALL,NO 5 PISTON,BUILT BY METAL LEVE,SAO PAULO,BRAZIL.INTERNAL VOIDS FND NR HOLE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231CJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N231CJ), registered now, S/N 25-0057, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Harford County

## 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 19810503084469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810503084469A), May 3, 1981: Mooney M20K, Churchville, MD, Substantial damage. Engine failed and aircraft crashed during attempted emergency landing on airport.

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.

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