# NTSB WPR13LA407: Mooney M20J, N1079K, Lund, NV, September 15, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 15, 2013, 08:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Lund, NV - Coordinates: 38.771945, -115.01361 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7719&lon=-115.0136&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 14, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88038 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA407 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88038/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88038 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA407 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to monitor the environment, which led to a collision with power lines during climbout. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power during low-altitude flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, which led to a forced landing that the pilot subsequently aborted when the engine regained full power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was maneuvering the airplane about 1,000 feet above ground level when the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a road; however, the engine regained power before the airplane landed. As the airplane began to climb out, it collided with power lines. The pilot chose to continue the flight and landed at an airport 150 miles south of the accident site where it was discovered that the airplane sustained substantial damage due to the power line strike. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The cause of the engine power loss could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On September 15, 2013, about 0815 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N1079K, sustained substantial damage when it collided with power lines 15 miles south of Lund, Nevada. The airplane was registered to Smith Plane LLC, and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Ely Airport, Ely, Nevada, at 0730 and had a destination of North Las Vegas Airport(VGT), Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilot stated to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that the purpose of the flight was to monitor a race course at the Silver State Classic Challenge Road Race. When he was about 1,000 feet above ground level the engine experienced a loss of power. While attempting to make an emergency landing, the engine regained power; shortly thereafter the airplane collided with power lines. The power lines subsequently separated from the airplane and the pilot continued his climbout. The pilot reported that he decided to depart the area and fly south to VGT, which was about 150 miles south, rather than fly over the mountains near Ely, Nevada. One of the passengers reported in a written statement to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, that as he was looking out of the window the pilot was manipulating the controls. The pilot stated that he was going to land on a road as he pulled and then pushed the throttle lever back in. After colliding with the wires, the passenger stated that all of the alarms were going off. The passenger further stated that the cylinder head temperature was high, and that he pointed this to the pilot. The postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the airplane had impact marks and damage on both wings, cowling and propeller assembly. The left wing tip fairing section was bent rearward and the left aileron was ripped from the trailing edge to its leading edge. The postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1079K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1079K), registered now, S/N 24-3159, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-3159 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 3529 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER A&C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Smith Plane LLC - Registered owner: Smith Plane LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 2013, 8 hours before - Departed: ELY, Ely, NV - Destination: VGT, LAS VEGAS, NV - Airport: ELY, Ely Arpt /Yelland Fld/ - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,222 total, 4,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KELY, 36 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 20130915022479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130915022479A), Sep 15, 2013: Mooney M20J, Ely, NV, Substantial damage. While conducting a aerial observation of automobile race near lund Nevada, N1079K experienced an engine power loss. During the descent to land on a highway,… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88038. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA-Passenger Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405586&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA-Passenger%20Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Alukonis (item 3, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411131&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Alukonis-Master.PDF - Photo 1-Postaccident Examination (item 4, .PDF, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405588&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-Postaccident%20Examination-Master.PDF - Photo 2-Postaccident Examination (item 5, .PDF, 277 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405590&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-Postaccident%20Examination-Master.PDF - Photo 3-Postaccident Examination (item 6, .PDF, 212 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405595&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203-Postaccident%20Examination-Master.PDF 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.