# NTSB NYC01LA066: Mooney M20C, N1398W, Somerset, MA, January 13, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 13, 2001, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Somerset, MA - Coordinates: 41.719009, -71.190261 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7190&lon=-71.1903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 50921 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50921/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA066 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout. A factor was the dusk lighting conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable - terrain condition - water ## Analysis About 8 minutes before sunset, during a low level, northbound flight along a river, the airplane struck high tension cables. Upon cable impact, the airplane lost the vertical stabilizer and rudder, and the pilot was forced to land in the river. After touchdown, the airplane skidded into rocks along the shoreline. ## Factual narrative On January 13, 2001, about 1630 Eastern Standard Time, a Mooney M20C, N1398W, was substantially damaged when it impacted power transmission cables, then force-landed in the Taunton River, in Somerset, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight, which originated at Newport State Airport, Newport, Rhode Island. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane was cruising northbound over the Taunton River, in an area that was urbanized on both sides. It passed over the Brada Bridge, then impacted one of two, eight-cable bundles of power transmission cables. The airplane continued northward, over the Brightman Street Bridge, then flew under another set of power cables, before being forced down in the river. After water touchdown, the airplane skidded into rocks along the river's western shoreline. In a later interview with the FAA inspector, the pilot stated that about 15 minutes after takeoff, he noticed that the engine was producing less power, and there was increased vibration. Just after passing the Brada Bridge and "just prior to reaching stall speed," the pilot applied carburetor heat. However, "owing to [a] reduced visibility at dusk, the approaching cable span was not observed in time.... After the cable strike, (approximately 10 seconds) the engine smartly picked up rpms, but by then, directional control of the aircraft was lost." On-scene examination revealed that one of the power cables in the southernmost bundle had been severed. The airplane's propeller had gouge marks on each of the two propeller blades, and both blade tips had been curled backwards. There was impact damage to both wings and the tail, and the cable impact "had clearly removed the rudder." Fuel samples were absent of water and debris, and the carburetor heat had been activated. The airplane's last annual inspection was completed on September 15, 1997. Weather, at airports approximately 15 nautical miles to the northeast and 12 nautical miles to the southwest, about 20 minutes after the accident, included clear skies, winds from the south at 4 to 5 knots, a temperature of 34 degrees Fahrenheit, and a dewpoint of 22 degrees Fahrenheit. Carburetor icing calculations indicated a probability of light icing during glide and while at cruise power settings. According to U.S. Naval Observatory data, sunset occurred at 1638. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1398W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1398W-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 2676, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2626 - Airframe hours: 3216 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Peter Baldwin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 1997, 311 hours before - Departed: UUU, Newport, RI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 28, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 760 total, 760 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: TAN, 10 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 20010113000719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010113000719A), Jan 13, 2001: Mooney M20C, Somerset, MA, No damage. (-23) Pilot experienced some power loss prior to striking electrical high tension cable span across taunton river. The strike damaged propeller, wings and… 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.