DEN02FA089

The airplane was found on a mountain ridge (elevation 11,814 feet; oriented 330 degrees) approximately 800 feet from a mountain peak (elevation 12,175). Family members said that the pilot commonly flew near the ridge "looking for animals." Two men camping nearby said that the wind was out of the west at 10 to 15 knots, with gusts over 20 knots, at the time of the accident. The density altitude was calculated to be 14,668 feet.

History of flight

On August 8, 2002, at approximately 1950 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20A, N1088B, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Delano Peak (elevation 12,175 feet), near Marysvale, Utah. The private pilot and his three passengers were fatally injured. The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight which originated from Richfield Municipal Airport, Richfield, Utah, at approximately 1930. The pilot had not filed a flight plan, but family members said that the airplane was destined for Colorado City, Arizona.

The Fixed Base Operator's records at the Richfield Municipal Airport indicate the pilot had the airplane "topped" off with 41.2 gallons of fuel. The refueler on the ramp remembered that the airplane departed at approximately 1930. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center confirmed the location of an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal in the Delano Peak area at approximately 2115. The following morning the Civil Air Patrol located the missing airplane, and a rescue/recovery team was dispatched. The airplane was found on a ridgeline at 11,814 feet.

Family members said the pilot, "would fly around that ridgeline, on many occasions, looking for animals."

Personnel information

The pilot took his last second class Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight medical examination on April 26, 2001, and at that time he reported on his application that he had 750 hours of flight experience, with 30 hours during the previous 6 months. The pilot's flight logbook was never located; it could not be determined if he had a current FAA mandated flight review.

Aircraft information

The airplane was a single engine, propeller-driven, four seat airplane, which was manufactured by Mooney Aircraft Corporation in 1958. It was powered by a Lycoming O-360-A1A, four cylinder, reciprocating, horizontally opposed, direct drive, air cooled, normally aspirated engine, which had a maximum takeoff rating of 180 horsepower at sea level. The last FAA mandated airplane annual inspection was completed on March 21, 2000. At the time of the accident, the airplane had an estimated 4,265 hours of total flight time.

Meteorological information

At 1954, the weather conditions at the Milford Municipal Airport (elevation 5,039 feet), Milford, Utah, 280 degrees 30 nautical miles (nm) from the accident site, was as follows: wind 020 degrees for 9 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; clear of clouds; temperature 82 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 25 degrees Fahrenheit; altimeter setting 30.22 inches. Two men camping approximately 2 miles from the accident site said at approximately 1945 on the evening of the accident, the wind was out of the southwest at 10 to 15 knots with gust over 20 knots.

The calculated density altitude was approximately 14,668 feet.

Wreckage and impact information

The airplane was found upright (N38 degrees, 22.38'; W112 degrees, 22.37'; elevation 11,814 feet) on Delano Peak (12,175 feet; approximately 800 feet from the wreckage), on the east side of a ridge, which extended approximately 330 degrees from the peak. A ground scar extending approximately 150 feet, on a 175 degree orientation, led to the wreckage. The airplane's fuselage was oriented approximately 030 degrees.

All of the airplane's major components were accounted for at the accident site. Both of the airplane's wings were separated from the fuselage, and the empennage was bent to the left. The cockpit area was crushed, and the engine assembly was bent approximately 90 degrees to the right. The bottom of the fuselage was "ripped" open. Flight control continuity check was not possible due to impact damage. The engine's throttle was found full forward, and the propeller and mixture controls were found approximately 1 inch aft.

The engine remained attached to the engine mount. Mechanical continuity was established throughout the rotating group, valve train, and accessory section by hand rotation of the crankshaft. "Thumb" compression was observed in all four cylinders, and both magnetos produced spark at each respective lead. The two bladed constant speed propeller remained attached the crankshaft flange. Both propeller blades displayed leading edge gouging, torsional twisting, chordwise striations across the cambered surface, and trailing edge "S" bending. The outboard 4 inches of both propeller blades were separated.

There was no evidence of pre or post impact fire. No preimpact engine or airframe anomalies, which might have affected the airplane's performance, were identified.

Medical and pathological information

An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the State of Utah, Department of Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 10, 2002.

The FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology tests on the pilot. According to CAMI's report (#200200217001), the pilot's blood was tested for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and drugs with negative results. The pilot's blood did prove positive for the volatiles (ethanol) ethanol and acetaldehyde. CAMI personnel reported that the ethanol and acetaldehyde (an ethanol intermediate product; either production of or metabolite of) found in this case were from postmortem formation.

Additional research

The airplane, including all components and logbooks, was released to the owner's brother on August 19, 2002.