# NTSB FTW90LA112: Mooney M-20F, N6873V, Aledo, TX, May 31, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 30, 1990, 19:30 local (May 31, 1990, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Aledo, TX
- Coordinates: 32.689918, -97.600601 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6899&lon=-97.6006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23134
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23134/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA112

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, IN AS MUCH AS THE PERFORMANCE DATA WAS NOT USED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, INADEQUATE AIRSPEED, AND PREMATURE LIFTOFF.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - performance data - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE RUNWAY WAS SHORT. THE DAY WAS HOT. THE AIRPLANE MADE A RUNNING START ONTO THE GRASS AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT PULLED THE AIRPLANE INTO THE AIR, WELL PAST THE NORMAL LIFTOFF POINT. THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT FLY OUT OF GROUND EFECT. THE PILOT KEPT THE AIRPLANE AIRBORNE UNTIL IT PASSED OVER A ROAD AND A FENCE, THEN HE PULLED THE POWER OFF, AND IT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. AIRSTRIP OAT WAS 94 DEGREES F. AND DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 3,600 FEET VERSUS AIRSTRIP ELEVATION OF 870 FEET MSL. AIRPLANE WAS NOT OVERLOADED FOR A NORMAL DAY, BUT IT WAS OVERLOADED FOR THE DENSITY ALTITUDE ON THIS DAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6873V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6873V-2013-05-03), registration cancelled 2013-05-03, S/N 22-1266, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-1266
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Fort Worth Wire & Cable
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 1990, 3 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Airport: Triple S, runway 35, 1,850 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 262 total, 105 in this make and model, 213 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTW, 9 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 19900530018269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900530018269A), May 30, 1990: Mooney M20F, Aledo, TX, Destroyed. Tried to depart short sod strip unable to climb out of ground effect. Aborted and impacted terrain. Temperature 94.

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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