# NTSB MIA91FA057: Mooney M20C, N6600U, Pensacola, FL, December 28, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: December 28, 1990, 17:39 local (23:39 UTC) - Place: Pensacola, FL - Coordinates: 30.470323, -87.190002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4703&lon=-87.1900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 8, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 32740 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91FA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32740/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91FA057 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S MEDICAL CONDITION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command (cause) - physical impairment(organic problem), pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) ## Analysis FLT WAS CLRD FOR ILS APCH. ABOUT 10 MI FROM RWY PLT REPORTED HIS GLIDESLOPE WAS NOT WORKING. FLT WAS THEN CLEARED FOR ASR RADAR APCH. AT 1.5 MILES FROM RWY FLT WAS LOST FROM RADAR. WITNESSES REPORTED ACFT FLEW OVERHEAD AT TREE TOP LEVEL WITHOUT THE ENG RUNNING. ACFT HIT TREES AND THEN CRASHED INTO GND INVERTED. PROPELLER HAD NO ROTATION DAMAGE. NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE PRECRASH MALFUNCTION OF ENGINE WAS NOTED. THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS IN THE CRUISE LEAN POSITION AND THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS IN THE COLD POSITION. NO INST APCH PLATES WERE FOUND OPEN IN THE COCKPIT. THE FLT WAS OPERATING IN CONDITIONS WHICH WOULD CAUSE VISIBLE CARB ICE AT CRUISE POWER AND SERIOUS CARB ICE AT GLIDE POWER. POST MORTEM EXAMINATION OF THE PLT INDICATED HE SUFFERED FROM MILD CEREBRAL ATROPHY AND HYPERTENSIVE ARTERIOSCLEROTIC HEART DISEASE. THE PLT WAS PRESCRIBED HYPERTENSIVE MEDICATION BUT WAS NOT TAKING IT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6600U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6600U-1991-05-23), registration cancelled 1991-05-23, S/N 2387 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2387 - Airframe hours: 2252 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A10 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cox, Fritz L. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 17, 1990, 21 hours before - Departed: UBS, COLUMBUS, MS - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: Pensacola Regional, runway 16, 7,002 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,700 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 100° at 6 knots - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PNS, 2 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 19901228056399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901228056399A), Dec 28, 1990: Mooney M20C, Pensacola, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Indicates engine quit on final. Witness heard starter operating. Lost control hit trees. Carb icing prevalent. ## Other investigations on N6600U (1) 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. - [NTSB IAD74DLQ03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74DLQ03), Jul 30, 1973: Mooney M20C (N6600U), Paducah, KY, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.