# NTSB NYC03LA198: Mooney M20A, N1072B, Rockford, OH, September 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 2003, 14:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Rockford, OH - Coordinates: 40.696109, -84.576667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6961&lon=-84.5767&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 57902 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57902/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA198 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the proper altitude/clearance, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a utility wire. The owner's improper decision to allow the airplane to be operated by an uncertificated pilot was also causal. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of certification, pilot in command - object - wire,static - planning/decision - improper, owner/builder (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was owned by the pilot's father-in-law, who maintained a 1,400-foot grass runway at his residence. A witness observed the airplane circling above the runway. He stated that the airplane appeared to be attempting to land, when it struck a utility wire and descended into the ground. The witness added that he did not hear any "sputtering" or unusual engine noises prior to the accident. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire. Examination of airman certificate records revealed that the pilot did not posses any airman certificates. Both the pilot and owner failed to provide any information regarding the circumstances of the accident, or the airworthiness history of the airplane, despite requests by both the Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 2003, about 1440 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20A, N1072B, was destroyed when it struck utility wires and impacted the ground, while on approach to land at a private airstrip in Rockford, Ohio. The uncertificated pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was owned by the pilot's father-in-law, who maintained a 1,400-foot grass runway at his residence. A witness observed the airplane circling above the runway. In a written statement, the witness stated: "[The airplane] flew low over the pond like he wanted to land, then circled back north around/over the woods. He then came back over the hill of the golf course just north and west of the landing strip. It looked like he was trying to land. I then saw the plane hit the utility wire and nose dive into the ground. All the wires were shaking...." The witness added that he did not hear any "sputtering" or unusual engine noises prior to the accident. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire. Examination of airman certificate records by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any certificate information for the pilot. Both the pilot and owner failed to provide any information regarding the circumstances of the accident, or the airworthiness history of the airplane, despite requests by the Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot did not respond to two letters from the Safety Board which requested he complete an NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report Form. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1072B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1072B-2006-08-10), registration cancelled 2006-08-10, S/N 1299, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20A - Registry model: [Mooney M20A](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20a) (registry code 5870204) (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: 1299 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerry L. Now - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NONE, Rockford, OH - Destination: Rockford, OH - Airport: NONE, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: AOH ## 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 20030909023129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030909023129A), Sep 9, 2003: Mooney M20A, Rockford, OH, Destroyed. (-23) The aircraft was observed by a ground witness circling above a Private Airport. While attempting to land, the aircraft struck utility wires and crashed.… 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.