# NTSB FTW87FA021: Mooney M20E, N9347M, Arcola, TX, November 22, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 21, 1986, 20:45 local (Nov 22, 1986, 02:45 UTC)
- Place: Arcola, TX
- Coordinates: 29.36919, -95.450309 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3692&lon=-95.4503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22218
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22218/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA021

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT DEPARTED ARCOLA, TX, VFR, ON RWY 10, MADE A 180 DEGREE LEFT CLIMBING TURN AND ENTERED CLOUDS AT ABOUT THE BOUNDARY LINE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE ARPT. THE RADAR OPERATOR STATED THE ACFT CONTINUED WESTBOUND ONE TO TWO MILES BEYOND THE ARPT THEN ENTERED AN ABRUPT LEFT DESCENDING TURN AND DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR. THE ACFT DESCENDED FROM THE LOW CLOUDS INTO A SMALL CLEARING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. IT CLIPPED THE TOP FROM TWO SMALL TREES IN THE CLEARING AND ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB. LIGHT GROUND CONTACT WAS MADE AND THEN THE ACFT IMPACTED AND SEPARATED A LARGE DEAD TREE IMMEDIATELY ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. IT THEN CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF 20-25 FT AND COLLIDED WITH OTHER LARGE TREES. IT CONTINUED TRAVEL ABOUT 100 FT INTO A HEAVILY WOODED AREA AND CAME TO REST IN A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9347M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9347M-1993-01-27), registration cancelled 1993-01-27, S/N 1279 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1279
- Airframe hours: 2015
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Raymond E. & Alton J. Burch
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 25, 1986, 25 hours before
- Departed: AXH, ARCOLA, TX
- Destination: CFD, BRYAN, TX
- Airport: AXH, Houston Southwest

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,190 total, 160 in this make and model, 1,960 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 70° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HOU, 15 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 19861121059979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861121059979A), Nov 21, 1986: Mooney M20E, Arcola, TX, Destroyed. Aircraft was seen entering clouds on downwind departure. Abrupt descending turn seen on radar. Impacted trees.

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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