# NTSB BFO92FA050: Mooney M20E, N3357X, Adamstown, MD, April 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 29, 1992, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Adamstown, MD
- Coordinates: 39.289634, -77.449615 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2896&lon=-77.4496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11722
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92FA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11722/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92FA050

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent total experience, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING FLIGHT IN THE AREA OF SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT AND CRASHED. A WITNESS SAW AN AIRPLANE DIVE TOWARD THE GROUND, BUT IT WENT OUT OF HIS VIEW BEHIND THE MOUNTAIN. HE DID NOT HEAR A CRASH AND ASSUMED THE AIRPLANE HAD RECOVERED FROM THE DIVE. LATER IN THE DAY, THE PILOT'S WIFE REPORTED THE AIRPLANE WAS OVERDUE. ABOUT 24 HOURS LATER, THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A WOODED AREA ON THE EAST SLOPE OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE AIRPLANE HAD IMPACTED THE EAST SLOPE AT ABOUT A 70 DEG ANGLE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3357X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3357X-1992-08-21), registration cancelled 1992-08-21, S/N 1080 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1080
- Airframe hours: 1535
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stephen P. Mueller
- Registered owner: Stephen P. Mueller
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 1991, 85 hours before
- Departed: GAI, GAITHERSBURG, MD
- Destination: ADAMSTOWN, MD

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,092 total, 122 in this make and model, 1,006 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FDK, 15 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 19920429012269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920429012269A), Apr 29, 1992: Mooney M20E, Adamstown, MD, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Observed to dive into mountain slope. No anomalies found. Pilot healthy and reported not depressed.

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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