# NTSB FTW89FA006: Mooney M20E, N79373, Longview, TX, October 22, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 22, 1988, 10:08 local (15:08 UTC)
- Place: Longview, TX
- Coordinates: 32.509284, -94.82022 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5093&lon=-94.8202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22748
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22748/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA006

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, cruise - normal
  - electrical system,electric wiring - shorted (cause)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - fire (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - fuselage,crew compartment - smoke (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE PILOT TRANSMITTED THAT HE HAD SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. 53 SECONDS LATER CONTACT WAS LOST. THE NOSE AND LEFT WING WERE SLIGHTLY DOWN WHEN THE ACFT STRUCK TREES AND TERRAIN AT HIGH SPEED. FIRE STARTED SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER IMPACT. INVESTIGATION INDICATED THERE HAD BEEN HEAVY SMOKE AND POSSIBLE SHORT DURATION FLASH FIRE OF UNDETERMINED ORIGIN. ONE GROUP OF WIRES WAS FOUND WITH BURNED INSULATION AND WITH ONE WIRE ELECTRICALLY MELTED IN TWO.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79373](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79373-1991-04-09), registration cancelled 1991-04-09, S/N 583 (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: 0583
- Airframe hours: 2824
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Birdwell, Robert
- Registered owner: Birdwell, Robert
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 1988, 5 hours before
- Departed: 78R, ST AUGUSTINE, TX
- Destination: 4F4, GILMER, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 763 total, 633 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GGG, 14 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 19881022047669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881022047669A), Oct 22, 1988: Mooney M20E, Longview, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot reported smoke in cockpit. Crashed and burned. Evidence of flash fire under dash near radios.

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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