# NTSB CHI91FA116: Mooney M-20C, N9692M, Prior Lake, MN, March 26, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 26, 1991, 13:11 local (19:11 UTC)
- Place: Prior Lake, MN
- Coordinates: 44.72002, -93.429145 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7200&lon=-93.4291&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14897
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91FA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14897/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91FA116

## Probable cause

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE EXECUTING A FORCED LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, AND FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, unknown
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND IN A FARMER'S FIELD BY A NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNER.  IT HAD IMPACTED AND EMBEDDED THE NOSE IN THE SOFT, RISING TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES NOSE DOWN WITH THE WINGS LEVEL.  THERE WAS NO GROUND TRAVEL AFTER INITIAL IMPACT.  INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT OR THE ENGINE.  THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER AT IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9692M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9692M-1991-06-21), registration cancelled 1991-06-21, S/N 670028 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 670028
- Airframe hours: 2328
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Vincent J. Herrick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 14, 1990, 54 hours before
- Departed: Y12, LAKEVILLE, MN
- Airport: NONE, Unk

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,500 total, 400 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSP, 14 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 19910326007629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910326007629A), Mar 26, 1991: Mooney M20C, Prior Lake, MN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Ran out of fuel en route. Wreckage in soft dirt field indicates a stall during forced landing Prior impact.

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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