# NTSB CEN12LA368: Mooney M20F, N6455Q, Hooker, OK, June 12, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 2012, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Hooker, OK - Coordinates: 36.850276, -101.221664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8503&lon=-101.2217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report November 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83955 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA368 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83955/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83955 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA368 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of airplane control after a partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment as a result of his recent use of illicit drugs. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Impairment/incapacitation: illicit drug](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012020): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012020/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Hazardous material leak/spill](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/450); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/450/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/450/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, a sudden partial loss of engine power occurred. The pilot lost airplane control as the airplane drifted left and then stalled. The airplane impacted terrain near the runway departure end. A significant fuel spill occurred, but no postimpact fire ensued. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident toxicology testing of the pilot's blood and urine specimens, which were obtained about 4 hours after the accident, revealed the presence of amphetamine and methamphetamine at levels consistent with recreational drug use shortly before the accident flight. Given the levels of methamphetamine and amphetamine in his blood 4 hours after the accident, it is likely that the pilot's judgment and ability to respond to an urgent or emergency situation was significantly impaired and contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 2012, about 1520 central daylight time, a Mooney M20F, N6455Q, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during initial climb after take-off from Hooker Municipal Airport (O45), Hooker, Oklahoma. The private pilot and the non-pilot passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was registered to West Coast Properties, LLC; Cheyenne, Wyoming, and was operated the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. At the time of the accident the airplane was departing O45 for a flight to an unknown airport near Minneapolis, Minnesota.The pilot reported that the airplane was in initial climb when there was a sudden partial loss of power. The pilot then retracted the landing gear and control was lost as the airplane began drifting to the left and stalled. The airplane impacted in a nose-down attitude on the nose and both wing tips and came to rest upright in an agricultural field about 900 feet southeast of the runway departure end. There was a significant fuel spill but no postimpact fire. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Routine postaccident toxicology testing was performed by the toxicology laboratory at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute. The pilot's blood specimen obtained about four hours after the accident was found to contain amphetamine (0.11 ug/ml) and methamphetamine (0.787 ug/ml). Specimens of the pilot's urine obtained about four hours after the accident contained amphetamine (15.708 ug/ml) and methamphetamine (133.847 ug/ml), and in addition contained ephedrine, fentanyl, morphine, ondansetron, phenylpropanolamine, and pseudoephedrine. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance and is used medically to treat attention deficit disorder, with or without hyperactivity, and narcolepsy. It is also a drug of abuse with street names crystal meth, crank, and ice. Amphetamine is the primary active metabolite of methamphetamine. Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine are each over the counter treatments for nasal congestion and appetite suppression but there is no single preparation that contains all three. However, each is used as a main ingredient in the illegal production of methamphetamine and may contaminate the street drug. Fentanyl and morphine are opioid analgesics and ondansetron is an anti-emetic; these had been administered at the hospital which initially provided postaccident care. At 1515, the automated weather reporting station at Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport (KLBL), Liberal, Kansas, located 17 miles northeast from the accident site, reported wind from 140 degrees at 24 knots with gusts to 32 knots, visibility of 10 miles or greater, sky clear, temperature 30 degrees Celsius (C), dew point temperature 9degrees C, and an altimeter setting 30.10 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6455Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6455Q-2018-03-06), registration cancelled 2018-03-06, S/N 670534, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F - Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 670438 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 4196 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, February 5, 2012, 34 hours before - Departed: O45, Hooker, OK - Airport: O45, Hooker Municipal Airport, runway 17, 3,311 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 6, 2010; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 652 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 24 knots, gusting 32 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KLBL, 17 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 20120612013009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120612013009A), Jun 12, 2012: Mooney M20F, Hooker, OK, Substantial damage. On June 12, 2012, at approximately 1515, N6455Q, a Mooney M20F, crashed in a field off the departure end of runway 17 at Hooker Municipal Airport in Hooker,… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83955. 6.7 MB in all. - Memorandum Regarding Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - (was not received) (item 1, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393494&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20Regarding%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20(was%20not%20received)-Master.PDF - IIC's Record of Findings (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417512&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=IIC%27s%20Record%20of%20Findings-Master.PDF - Airport Fuel Records and Fuel Quality Testing (item 3, .PDF, 394 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417513&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Fuel%20Records%20and%20Fuel%20Quality%20Testing-Redacted.PDF - Maps (item 4, .PDF, 329 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393498&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps-Master.PDF - Weather Summary (item 5, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393497&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-Master.PDF - Medical Factual (item 6, .PDF, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397451&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Medical%20Factual-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report - Pilot (item 7, .PDF, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393495&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage as viewed from the left side (Oklahoma Highway Patrol Photo) (item 8, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393499&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20as%20viewed%20from%20the%20left%20side%20%20(Oklahoma%20Highway%20Patrol%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Wreckage as viewed from the right side (Oklahoma Highway Patrol Photo) (item 9, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393500&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Wreckage%20as%20viewed%20from%20the%20right%20side%20%20(Oklahoma%20Highway%20Patrol%20Photo)-Master.PDF 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.