# NTSB FTW87FA209: Mooney M-20C, N5590Q, Waller, TX, September 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 5, 1987, 17:42 local (22:42 UTC)
- Place: Waller, TX
- Coordinates: 30.049808, -95.920059 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0498&lon=-95.9201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22274
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA209
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22274/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA209

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - maneuver - attempted, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - relinquishing of control - delayed, dual student (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

IT WAS REPORTED THAT A PRIVATE PILOT WAS RECEIVING INSTRUMENT FLIGHT INSTRUCTIONS FROM A CFI WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HOWEVER, THE CFI STATED THAT HE WAS INVITED BY THE PVT PLT TO GO WITH HIM ON A SHORT FLIGHT AND THAT HE WAS ONLY A PASSENGER. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PVT PLT REPORTEDLY STARTED DOING SLOW FLIGHT MANEUVERS AT 3000 FEET MSL. ACCORDING TO THE CFI THE PVT PLT MADE SEVERAL FLIGHT CONTROL INPUTS WHICH TERMINATED WITH THE AIRCRAFT BEING IN AN INVERTED SPIN. WHEN THE PVT PLT MADE NO ATTEMPTS TO RECOVER, THE CFI MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE HAD THE AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THAT THE PVT PLT HAD A COMPLETELY BLANK LOOK ON HIS FACE AND WOULD NOT LET GO OF THE CONTROLS. HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. HE THEN FOUGHT THE PVT PLT UNTIL HE GAINED CONTROL. HOWEVER, IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID IMPACT WITH TREES, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5590Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5590Q-1990-03-19), registration cancelled 1990-03-19, S/N 2984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2984
- Airframe hours: 1582
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jack H. Kehoe
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 1987, 41 hours before
- Departed: DWH, TOMBALL, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 781 total, 25 in this make and model, 774 as pilot in command, 119 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19870905077539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870905077539A), Sep 5, 1987: Mooney M20C, Waller, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Student froze on controls in approach to stall. Spin began. CFI got student off controls just prior to crash.

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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