# NTSB ATL94LA070: Mooney M20J, N4780H, Muscle Shoals, AL, March 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 1994, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Muscle Shoals, AL - Coordinates: 34.740791, -87.639762 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7408&lon=-87.6398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3363 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3363/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA070 ## Probable cause WAS THE LOOSE THROTTLE CABLE, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE DID NOT PRODUCE FULL POWER. A FACTOR WAS THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - throttle/power lever,cable - loose (cause) - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach ## Analysis ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ENGINE DID NOT PRODUCE FULL POWER DURING TAKEOFf. A LONGER THAN NORMAL TAKE OFF ROLL OCCURRED, WHICH USED OVER HALF OF THE 4,000 FOOT LONG RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE POWER OUTPUT DECREASED AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY ENTERED A DOWNWIND AND RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY, AT LOW LEVEL. ON FINAL APPROACH, PRIOR TO REACHING THE RUNWAY, THE LEFT WING HIT THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS FOUND LOOSE, WHICH PREVENTED OBTAINING FULL POWER. AN ENTRY IN THE AIRCRAFT LOG INDICATED THAT AN ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD BEEN PERFORMED THE PREVIOUS DAY. THE ENGINE LOG ALSO CONTAINED AN ENTRY INDICATING A 100 HOUR INSPECTION HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THE PREVIOUS DAY. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 1994, about 1430 central standard time, a Mooney M20J, N4780H, collided with the ground during a forced landing. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There were no injuries to the private pilot nor the passenger, and the airplane was substantially damaged. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the personal flight to Tallahassee, Florida. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The takeoff from runway 36 was observed by a Flight Service Station specialist, who stated that the takeoff roll was unusually long, using over half of the 4,000 foot long runway, and that the engine did not sound as if full power had been achieved. After becoming airborne, the landing gear remained extended. A right downwind turn was made and the airplane proceeded back to the departure runway, at low level. Prior to reaching the runway, the airplane struck the ground with the left wing, east of the approach end of runway 36, and cartwheeled. An inspector from the Alabama Flight Standards District Office, Birmingham, Alabama, examined the wreckage. He reported that the throttle cable was loose. An entry in the aircraft log and the engine log indicated that an annual and a 100 hour inspection, respectively, had been performed on the previous day. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4780H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4780H-2002-02-02), registration cancelled 2002-02-02, S/N 24-0871, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0871 - Airframe hours: 1352 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gehrich, Gunter H - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1994, 4 hours before - Destination: TLH, TALAHASSE, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MSL, Muscle Shoals, runway 36, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,523 total, 1,350 in this make and model, 3,253 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MSL, 1 nm away ## 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 19940325006629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940325006629A), Mar 25, 1994: Mooney M20J, Muscle Shoals, AL, Substantial damage. Observed long takeoff roll and low power. Tried return but crashed short. Lose throttle cable. Just out of annual. ## Other investigations on N4780H (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA01FA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01FA151), Jun 6, 2001: Mooney M-20J (N4780H), Monroe, NC, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot in command’s failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering to avoid objects, resulting in a stall/mush and collision with the terrain during uncontrolled descent. Contributing to the… 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.