# NTSB DEN87FA148: Mooney M20K, N4047H, Broomfield, CO, June 14, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 14, 1987, 11:36 local (17:36 UTC)
- Place: Broomfield, CO
- Coordinates: 39.940505, -105.06092 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9405&lon=-105.0609&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17112
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17112/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA148

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - door,cargo/baggage - loose (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, production/design personnel (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate aircraft manuals, manufacturer (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - door,cargo/baggage - open (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4047H-1989-07-24), registration cancelled 1989-07-24, S/N 250458 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-0458
- Airframe hours: 1164
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870614020079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870614020079A), Jun 14, 1987: Mooney M20K, Broomfield, CO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Cargo door open on takeoff. Aircraft pitched up rolled left in near vertical bank. Nose went down. Impacted runway.

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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