# NTSB WPR19LA167: Mooney M20V, N576CM, Phoenix, AZ, June 11, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 11, 2019, 14:51 local (21:51 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.683612, -112.126945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6836&lon=-112.1269&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Continental Motors, FAA-FSDO, Mooney - NTSB case key (mKey): 99594 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99594/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99594 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA167 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined with the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney International M20V, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=5870252), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney International M20V, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=5870252), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney International M20V, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=5870252), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney International M20V, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870252), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a personal flight, the pilot notified air traffic control that he had a rough-running engine, and the pilot declared an emergency. The controller advised the pilot of two diversion airports; the first was located near the airplane’s position at the time, and the second was located about 12 miles south of the airplane’s position. The pilot elected to divert to the second airport. The pilot advised the controller a few minutes later that the airplane would be unable to reach that airport, and the radar track showed a right turn toward the other airport, which was about 8 miles east from the airplane’s position. No further communication from the pilot was received. A witness located near the accident site reported that the airplane maneuvered to avoid power lines and struck light poles before it impacted the ground. A postimpact fire ensued. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that engine control continuity was established from all the engine controls to their respective engine components. The engine exhibited extensive thermal damage. To prepare the engine for test runs performed by the manufacturer, several components and accessories were replaced due to thermal damage. The engine was successfully run at various power settings. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the recovered parts of the engine and airframe that would have precluded normal operation. As a result, the reason for the partial loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 2019, about 1451 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20V airplane, N576CM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Deer Valley Airport (DVT) Deer Valley, Arizona. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. About 5 months after the accident, the pilot succumbed to his injuries. A statement from the pilot was not obtained during the investigation. Review of air traffic control communications revealed that, about 7 minutes after departing from Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Scottsdale, Arizona, the pilot reported a “rough running engine” and subsequently declared an emergency. The airplane was about 8 miles northwest of DVT at the time of the pilot’s radio call. Radar data showed that the pilot had climbed the airplane to an altitude of 9,100 ft mean sea level. The controller informed the pilot of possible diversion airports, stating that Pleasant Valley Airport (P48), Peoria, Arizona, was near the airplane’s position and that Glendale Municipal Airport (GEU), Glendale, Arizona, was 12 miles south of the airplane’s position. The pilot elected to divert to GEU, and radar data showed that the airplane turned to the south onto a heading that aligned with runway 19. A few minutes later, when the airplane was at an altitude of about 4,700 ft mean sea level, the pilot recognized that the airplane was not going to reach GEU, so he made a turn toward DVT, which was about 8 miles to the east. No other transmissions from the pilot were recorded. Radar data showed that the airplane continued on an easterly heading until the last recorded target; at that time, the airplane was about 2 miles west of DVT. A witness, who was located near the accident site, reported that the airplane appeared to bank left to avoid high-tension power lines before it impacted two light posts and then the ground. A postimpact fire ensued. The airplane came to rest on a street. The postimpact fire consumed most of the airframe. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to all primary flight control surfaces. Engine control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to their respective engine components. An unmeasured amount of fuel remained in the left-wing fuel tank. Fueling records showed that, on the morning of the accident flight, the airplane tanks were filled with 58 gallons of 100 low-lead fuel. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed extensive thermal damage throughout. The engine was then shipped to the manufacturer for further examination. While preparing the engine for the test runs, several components and accessories were replaced due to thermal damage. The engine was successfully run at various power settings, but it would not run at idle. The metering assembly was removed and tested, and internal components were replaced. Hard deposits of what appeared to be melted plastic on the throttle body internalwalls was removed. Afterward, the engine was successfully run. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N576CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N576CM-2022-10-01), registration cancelled 2022-10-01, S/N 33-0015, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20V - Registry model: [Mooney International M20V](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-international-m20v) (registry code 5870252) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-550-G](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-550-g) (registry code 17401, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33-0015 - Year built: 2019 - Engines: Continental Motors TSIO-550-G 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 2019 - Departed: SDL, Scottsdale, AZ - Destination: CXP, Carson City, NV - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DVT, Phoenix Deer Valley, runway 07R, 8,196 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 10, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 429 total, 18 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 108 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KGEU, 13 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 20190611006679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190611006679A), Jun 11, 2019: Mooney International Corp M20V, Phoenix, AZ, Destroyed. Shortly after departing scottsdale, over lake pleasant at approximately 9,000 feet, the pilot reported a rough running engine. ATC directed a turn to the south… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99594. 15.6 MB in all. - Record of conversation-witness (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13310010&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Witness_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Radar data (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 294 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13309886&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA167%20-%20Tabular%20Track%20Data-Rel.pdf - NTSB accident site and wreckage examination summary (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13310020&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA167%20Accident%20Site%20and%20Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - NTSB engine examination summary (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 8 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13310394&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA167%20Engine%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - NTSB engine exam / run (rev a) (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13215126&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Engine%20Activity%20and%20Run%20WPR19FA167%20Rev%20A-Rel.pdf - Fueling record (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13214851&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fueling%20Record_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance logbook entries (item 7, PDF, 25 pages, 8.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13214271&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mx%20Logs_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation-cmi (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 325 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13215633&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form-CMI_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation-mooney (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13214031&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form-Mooney_Redacted-Rel.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.