# NTSB NYC91FA060: Mooney M20J, N804DW, Brookline, NH, January 17, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 17, 1991, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Brookline, NH
- Location: 42.7348° N, 71.6581° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Brookline, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7348&lon=-71.6581&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36778
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91FA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36778/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91FA060

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) TO ATTAIN REMEDIAL ACTION AFTER CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WAS LOST FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained (cause)
  - remedial action - not attained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE STUDENT (A RATED PILOT) & THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) TOOK OFF AT 1645 EST ON A FLIGHT TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCE IN COMPLEX AIRCRAFT TO THE STUDENT.  THE LESSON WAS TO INCLUDE MINIMUM CONTROL AIRSPEEDS/STALLS, STEEP TURNS, AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ON A WOODED HILLTOP.  THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT.  AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP DESCENT.  THE ONLY DAMAGE TO TREES WAS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE WRECKAGE.  CUT TREE LIMBS WERE FND IN THAT AREA.  THE LEADING EDGES OF BOTH WINGS WERE COMPRESSED REARWARD, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DISPLACED FORWARD, THE BACK OF THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT WAS DISPLACED REARWARD, AND THE LEFT FRONT SEAT WAS DISPLACED TO THE RIGHT & SLIGHTLY REARWARD.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.  OFFICIAL TWILIGHT WAS AT 1711 EST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N804DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N804DW-1991-10-08), registration cancelled 1991-10-08, S/N 24170214 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1702-14
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Daniel Webster College
- Departed: ASH, NASHUA, NH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,549 total, 357 in this make and model, 1,489 as pilot in command, 215 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 40,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: ASH, 6 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 19910117000659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910117000659A), Jan 17, 1991: Mooney M20J, Brookline, NH, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Wreckage indicates stall spin vertical impact. Flight itinerary was stalls,steep turns for complex aircraft dual.

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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