# NTSB CHI92FA169: Mooney M20J, N302FW, Bloomington, IL, June 11, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 11, 1992, 13:42 local (18:42 UTC)
- Place: Bloomington, IL
- Coordinates: 40.470321, -88.969169 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4703&lon=-88.9692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15292
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92FA169
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15292/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92FA169

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE TURN FROM BASE LEG TO FINAL APPROACH.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE 69 YEAR OLD PILOT RETURNED TO THE HOME BASE AIRPORT AFTER A BUSINESS TRIP AND ENTERED A RIGHT HAND TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 3.  WITNESSES DESCRIBED A VERY TIGHT, CLOSE-IN TRAFFIC PATTERN, AND STATED THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS LOWER THAN THE NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN (ESTIMATED 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND).  THEY STATED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE WAS '...TILTING SLIGHTLY UPWARDS...' AND THEN THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A STEEP ('KNIFE-EDGE') LEFT TURN AND DESCENDED TO THE GROUND.  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT.  POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR PILOT INCAPACITATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N302FW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N302FW-1992-12-10), registration cancelled 1992-12-10, S/N 241091 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1091
- Airframe hours: 2069
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Berner, Louis A. Jr.
- Registered owner: Berner, Louis A. Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 1991, 185 hours before
- Departed: UNK, UNKNOWN, IL
- Airport: BMI, Bloomington, runway 3, 3,720 × 100 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,450 total, 250 in this make and model, 2,250 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BMI, 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 19920611019559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920611019559A), Jun 11, 1992: Mooney M20J, Bloomington-Nor, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Stalled into residential area turning final for landing. Had unsecured large water pump on floor right front area.

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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