- Date
- September 5, 1984, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Saratoga, WY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9121VMooney M20F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19840905076689I
- Case key
- 16276
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While in level cruise flt at 10500 ft, the plt heard a high-pitched whine that lasted for about 5 seconds. The engine then seized and the plt made a forced landing in mountainous foothills. During the landing roll, the landing gearcollapsed. Examination of the disassembled engine revealed evidence of high heat distress and a fractured crankshaft. Detailed examination of the crankshaft revealed evidence of a lack of lubrication and fatigue. Maintenance records revealed that the acft was involved in a gear collapse incident in 1977 that resulted in a prop strike and sudden enginestoppage. The engine was not disassembled and inspected at that time as suggested by avco Lycoming service letter no. L163B.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9121V
- Reported as
- Mooney M20F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 690029
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert B Anderson Jr
- Registered owner
- Robert B. Anderson, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- FML · Fort Collins, CO
- Destination
- PIH · Pocatello, ID
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,842 total · 5,842 in this make and model · 7,842 as pilot in command · 41 in the last 90 days · 41 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RWL, 37 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.