- Date
- June 14, 1987, 11:36 local (17:36 UTC)
- Place
- Broomfield, CO
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4047HMooney M20K
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations
- Yes
- FAA report
- 19870614020079A
- Case key
- 17112
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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
Drg takeoff, the baggage door (bd) came open. Twr psnl advised the plt, but recd no discernible reply. At aprx 100' AGL,the acft pitched up & rolled left, then entered a steep dscnt & crashed aprx 500' left of the rwy. Except for the bd, nopreimpact mech prblm was fnd. The bd was fnd sepd fm the fuselage with the external lever (ext lvr) seated & locked, butthe internal lever (int lvr) was displaced twd the open psn & the protective cover (CVR) for the int lvr was fnd inside the acft. Also, the int lvr lock knob was missing 2 of 4 locking ears. Normally, the bd is to be opened & closed by using the ext lvr & the int lvr is intended to be actuated only when the bd is used as an aux (emergency) exit. However,with the CVR off, the int lvr was vulnerable to possible movement by unwarranted pax activity, interference with rear shoulder harness, or inadvertent contact with baggage or reclining rear seat. The flt manual does not address the possibility of the bd coming open in flt. Also, the int lvr is not listed as an item on the preflt checklist.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4047H
- Reported as
- Mooney M20K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-0458
- Airframe hours
- 1,164
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-360-GB1, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Vit Flyers
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 29, 1987 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- BJC
- Destination
- BJC
- Airport
- BJC · Jefferson County, runway 29R, 9,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 324 total · 14 in this make and model · 232 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BJC, 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.