# NTSB CHI87LA062: Mooney M20J, N5632H, Kalamazoo, MI, January 10, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1987, 19:30 local (Jan 10, 1987, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Kalamazoo, MI
- Coordinates: 42.260028, -85.620506 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2600&lon=-85.6205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13717
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87LA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13717/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87LA062

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - communications - inadequate, pilot in command
- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, descent
  - engine assembly - undetermined (cause)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Undershoot, landing

## Analysis

AFTER REQUESTING CLEARANCE TO KALAMAZOO COUNTY AIRPORT (AZO) DUE TO ICING PROBLEMS, THE PLT WAS GIVEN RADAR VECTORS TO THE ILS RUNWAY 35 APPROACH. FOUR MINUTES LATER THE PLT STATED THAT IT WAS 'PROBABLY GOING TO BE A DEAD STICK LANDING.' WHEN ASKED WHAT HE MEANT, THE PLT STATED HE WAS OUT OF POWER. AT THAT TIME, THE ACFT WAS ABOUT FIVE MILES FROM AZO AND IT CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE SOUTHEAST OF AZO. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, A DIFFERENT PROP WAS INSTALLED ON THE ENG AND IT RAN SMOOTHLY. OPERATION OF THE ALTERNATE AIR DOOR WAS CHECKED AND NO DEFECTS WERE NOTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5632H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5632H-2018-01-30), registration cancelled 2018-01-30, S/N 24-1368, built 1983 (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: 24-1368
- Airframe hours: 2255
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Waymon L. Harris
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 21, 1986, 517 hours before
- Departed: ROC, ROCHESTER, NY
- Destination: 5BN, SOUTH BEND, IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AZO, Kalamazoo County, runway 35, 6,499 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 9,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 9° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AZO, 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 19870109000479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870109000479A), Jan 9, 1987: Mooney M20J, Kalamazoo, MI, Substantial damage. The engine failed from snow ingestion. Pilot did not communicate emergency with ATC. Landed short of runway.

## Other investigations on N5632H (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 NYC00FA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00FA118), Apr 21, 2000: Mooney M20J (N5632H), Norton, VA, destroyed, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper weather evaluation, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. Factors in this accident were icing conditions, and aircraft loading which exceed the airplane's weight and…

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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