# NTSB ATL88FA174: Mooney M20F, N9654M, Middlesboro, KY, May 14, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 14, 1988, 11:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place: Middlesboro, KY
- Coordinates: 36.610691, -83.719459 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6107&lon=-83.7195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7605
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88FA174
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7605/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88FA174

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - precautionary landing - initiated
  - lowering of flaps - performed, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - residential area

## Analysis

WITNESSES RPRTED THE ENG DID NOT SOUND LIKE IT WAS PROVIDING FULL POWER DRG TAKEOFF & THAT ABT 3/4 OF THE 3600' RWY WAS USED FOR THE TAKEOFF ROLL. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT CLIMBED AT A SHALLOW ANGLE TO ABT 250 TO 300 FT AGL. IT THEN ENTEREDA SHALLOW LEFT BANK. AFTER TURNING ABT 90 DEG, ITS NOSE PITCHED UP & THE ACFT CLIMBED ABT 100 FT. THE ACFT THEN SNAP- ROLLED TO THE LEFT, ENTERED A DSCNT & CRASHED NEXT TO A STORAGE BLDG IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT WAS LOADED TO NEAR ITS MAX GROSS WT LIMIT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE ENGINE WAS SATISFACTORILY TEST-RUN AT RATED POWER. THE LNDG GEAR WAS FND IN THE FULLY RETRACTED PSN & THE FLAPS WERE FND FULLY EXTENDED. USING THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE WITH 15 DEG OF FLAPS (TAKEOFF FLAPS) WAS CALCULATED TO BE 977'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9654M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9654M-1991-03-13), registration cancelled 1991-03-13, S/N 670231 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 67023L
- Airframe hours: 3394
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stanley W. Erwin
- Registered owner: Stanley W Erwin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 1988, 3 hours before
- Departed: 1A6
- Destination: DKX, KNOXVILLE, TN
- Airport: 1A6, Middlesboro-Bell County, runway 10, 3,630 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,382 total, 1,035 in this make and model, 1,258 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19880514064969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880514064969A), May 14, 1988: Mooney M20F, Middlesboro, KY, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Took off with full flaps and full load. Aircraft pitched up stalled rolled and crashed. 4 pilots were on board.

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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