# NTSB ATL85FA109: Mooney M20J, N4757H, Chattanooga, TN, March 5, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 5, 1985, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Chattanooga, TN
- Location: 35.0352° N, 85.2036° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LOVELL FLD (CHA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0352&lon=-85.2036&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6600
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6600/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FA109

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - object - vehicle
  - starting procedure - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inattentive, pilot in command
  - aircraft unattended/engine(s) running - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO DISENGAGE THE STARTER PINION GEAR BY ROCKING THE PROP UP & DOWN BY HAND. THE ENG INADVERTENTLY STARTED & THE ACFT ROLLED ACROSS THE RAMP AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED & COLLIDED WITH TWO AUTOMOBILES & A CHAIN LINK FENCE BEFORE COMING TO REST. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE MAGS & THE MASTER SWITCH IN THE BOTH & ON POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY. TWO PASSENGERS WERE SEATED IN THE BACK SEATS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4757H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4757H-2016-01-07), registration cancelled 2016-01-07, S/N 24-0838 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-0838
- Airframe hours: 990
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wesley E. Park
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 1984, 70 hours before
- Departed: VNC, VENICE, FL
- Airport: CHA, Lovell

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,912 total, 620 in this make and model, 1,828 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19850305026619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850305026619A), Mar 5, 1985: Mooney M20J, Chattanooga, TN, Substantial damage. Aircraft collided with two automobiles when pilot pulled on prop and engine started.

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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