MooneyM20C

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain at 1034 Eastern time. The Canadian certificated private pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed at the site; however, initiation of the event occurred in instrument conditions. According to preliminary information, the airplane was in cruise flight at 6200 feet msl, the minimum sector altitude (MSA) for that location, when the pilot reported airframe icing and requested a lower altitude. However, because of terrain, the controller gave the pilot a 30-degree left turn. Another pilot, in an airplane about 30 nm to the east, subsequently reported cloud tops at 7500 feet. The controller asked the pilot if he would like a climb to 8000 feet and the pilot responded that he would. About three minutes later, the pilot advised the controller that he was losing altitude. The controller told him to maintain whatever altitude he could, and advised him of the location of the nearest airport. There were no further communications from the airplane.

At approximately 2330 Mountain time, the airplane impacted electrical power lines about one mile north of the airport. The Private pilot and his passenger received fatal injuries; the aircraft was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses reported the pilot landed at the airport earlier in the evening and, after visiting with people at the airport, departed for the airstrip at Green River, Utah. About 45 minutes later, the aircraft returned and, while on an extended final to Runway 18, hit the wires, which are strung between unlighted poles. The runway lights were not functioning and although Runway 36 is equipped with a VASI (Visual Approach Slope Indicator), Runway 18 is not.

The airplane experienced a loss of engine power during cruise and made an emergency landing at about 0745 Pacific time in a construction site. The Private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage after impacting a ditch during the landing rollout. Visual conditions prevailed.

At 2306 Pacific time, the airplane collided with mountainous terrain while executing an approach to the Van Nuys (Calif.) Airport. The Private pilot was the sole occupant and was fatally injured; the airplane was destroyed. Instrument conditions prevailed, but no flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated in Santa Ana, Calif. After receiving a pop-up IFR clearance for the ILS approach to Runway 16R at Van Nuys, the airplane made a sudden diversion to the right, off the localizer course. He was then directed to climb to 5000 feet on a southerly heading. The pilot acknowledged the instructions, stating he had a problem and was climbing. The pilot made no further transmissions be…

The Mooney sustained substantial damage during a landing on Runway 9 at the Table Rock Airport (MO32), Golden, Mo. The Private pilot was seriously injured. In a written report, the pilot stated that the airplane began to drift sharply to the left as it crossed the runway end about 20 to 30 feet agl. The pilot stated, I dipped my right wing, applied full right rudder and I applied full power intending to go around. About the time I started to climb out my left wing and then the prop hit the branches of a couple of trees approximately 70 [feet] left of the runway. I remember seeing the prop bending just before the plane nose dived to the ground and settled right side up facing the opposite di…

At approximately 1445 central time, a Mooney M20C crashed near Amarillo, Texas, after the pilot reported having chest pains. The pilot was killed. The pilot departed Amarillo and requested flight following for a VFR cross-country trip. A few minutes later, he reported chest pains and advised he was returning to Amarillo. Witnesses and the recorded radar track showed the airplane entered a steep descending right turn….

At 0928 eastern time a Mooney M20C crashed into trees while the pilot was searching for a private grass strip in Monticello. The pilot was killed. Instrument conditions prevailed at the time, but the flight was not operating under IFR. A witness said the weather was foggy and he heard the airplane but could barely see it as it flew over him at low altitude. Another witness said he had been waiting for the pilot to meet him at his private airstrip about a quarter mile from were the accident occurred….

At about 2030 eastern time, a Mooney M20C lost engine power and was damaged landing in a field in Utica. The pilot received minor injuries. The pilot said the airplane had 20 gallons in the left tank and 12 gallons in the right tank when he departed. He determined he had enough fuel for four planned flights, plus a 30-minute reserve. He planned a cruise speed of 105 knots, which should have resulted in a fuel burn of 8 gph. The first leg was uneventful. On the second leg, he had to circle for 15 minutes before landing because of traffic. There was no fuel available at that airport, so he proceeded on the next leg. At the next airport, there was no fuel available and he did not check the quan…

At approximately 2115 mountain time, a Mooney M20C suffered a gear collapse while taxiing for take off at Boise Air Terminal/Gowan Field. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot said he was taxiing for takeoff and approaching the end of the taxiway prior to turning onto the runway. He reduced power and the nose gear and left main gear collapsed without warning. The pilot also reported that the nose landing gear had collapsed after engine shutdown about two months earlier, but the reason for the nose gear collapse had not been determined….

At about 1630 eastern time, a Mooney M20C struck a ground marshaller during taxi after landing at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. The ground marshaller was seriously injured and the airplane received minor damage. The pilot said he was taxiing west on taxiway Delta when he saw the ground marshaller off his left wing. The ground marshaller waved him on and then ducked down. A witness said the marshaller made a 90-degree turn to tell the witness, who was on a motorcycle, where to lead the airplane. The airplanes left wing struck the ground marshaller in the back, knocking him forward. The left wing then struck the ground marshaller in the back of the head, knocking him to the ground….