# NTSB ATL94LA108: Mooney M20F, N9314V, Williston, TN, May 28, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1994, 15:57 local (20:57 UTC)
- Place: Williston, TN
- Coordinates: 35.14064, -89.440673 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1406&lon=-89.4407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3392
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3392/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA108

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND A COLLISION WITH THE GROUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, climb
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

AFTER A TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE SOD AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT EXECUTED A STEEP LEFT TURN 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH TREES WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF THE AIRPORT. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED WITH THE AIRPLANE BY THE PILOT.

## Factual narrative

On May 28, 1994, at 1557 central daylight time, a Mooney M20F, N9314V, collided with trees during a climbout from a private airstrip near Williston, Tennessee. The personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot received serious injuries. The flight departed Williston at 1555 hours.

According to an eyewitness, the pilot made a short field takeoff, and executed a steep left turn 200 feet above the ground. The witness watched the airplane until it collided with trees 1/4 mile south of the airport. According to the pilot, he encountered a tailwind, and the airplane stalled during the climbout. No aircraft problems were reported by the pilot.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9314V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9314V-1997-03-24), registration cancelled 1997-03-24, S/N 690089 (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: 690089
- Airframe hours: 1619
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Crawford, Jacob H.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 9, 1993, 37 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,500 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MKL, 25 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 19940528012979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940528012979A), May 28, 1994: Mooney M20F, Somerville, TN, Substantial damage. Stalled on a steep climbing turn departing a Private strip.

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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