# NTSB CHI08CA116: Mooney M20J, N4513H, Howell, MI, April 27, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 27, 2008, 19:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Howell, MI
- Coordinates: 42.638053, -83.992225
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6381&lon=-83.9922&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67949
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67949/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA116

## Probable cause

The inadvertent stall and low airspeed while maneuvering back to the departure airport after the baggage door opened in flight. An additional cause was the plot's diverted attention to the opening of the baggage door.

## 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 M20J, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)
- [Wing structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane received substantial damage on impact with terrain while turning back to the airport following takeoff from runway 31 (5,002 feet by 100 feet, concrete). The pilot reported that after takeoff the baggage door opened and the airplane stalled while returning to the airport.  Damage to the airplane included a bent left wing.

## Factual narrative

The airplane received substantial damage on impact with terrain while turning back to the airport following takeoff from runway 31 (5,002 feet by 100 feet, concrete). The pilot reported that after takeoff the baggage door opened and the airplane stalled while returning to the airport.  Damage to the airplane included a bent left wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4513H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4513H-2009-01-12), registration cancelled 2009-01-12, S/N 24-0757, built 1978 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-0757
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot
- Registered owner: Flykappa Sales LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: OZW, HOWELL, MI
- Destination: 1D2, PLYMOUTH, MI
- Airport: 3HE, Livingston County, runway 31

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 219 total, 112 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20080427835469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080427835469A), Apr 27, 2008: Mooney M20J, Howell, MI, Destroyed. (-23) PIC reported that on departure from runway 31 at kozw the baggage door opened. PIC attempted to make a left turn to land on runway 13 at approximately…

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.