- Date
- February 24, 1994, 09:42 local (16:42 UTC)
- Place
- Gallup, NM
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N201SXMooney M20J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940224002879A
- Case key
- 19005
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power due to the failure of the number 3 exhaust valve. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain available to execute the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
At 8,500 feet MSL the pilot experienced a loss of engine power due to the failure of the exhaust valve for the number three cylinder. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a snow covered open field. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed after impacting a tree stump.
Factual narrative
On February 24, 1994 at 0942 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20J, N201SX, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Gallup, New Mexico. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
The pilot stated in the enclosed pilot/operator report that while in cruise flight at 8,500 feet MSL, he heard a "pop-like" sound coming from the engine, immediately followed by a severe engine vibration. The pilot added that the engine lost power and he proceeded to shut down the engine.
A forced landing to a snow covered open field was performed. The pilot elected to land with the landing gear extended. During the landing roll the right main landing gear collapsed after it collided with tree stump.
Post accident examination of the engine revealed that the exhaust valve for the number 3 cylinder failed, resulting in the total loss of engine power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N201SX
- Reported as
- Mooney M20J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-0308
- Airframe hours
- 1,619
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-AIB6D, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Smith, Gerald A.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 5, 1993 · 131 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 783 total · 112 in this make and model · 715 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 19 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GUP
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.