Mooney M20M N987CM
13 October 1990 · Culpeper, Virginia, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 13 October 1990 at about 19:10 local time, a Mooney M20M registered N987CM was involved in an accident near Culpeper, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Culpeper, Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Culpeper (W49)
- Coordinates
- 38.4697, -78.0002
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20M
- Registration
- N987CM
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Manassas
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO91LA003
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
INTERGRANULAR CRACKING (FATIGUE) FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST CLAMP, WHICH RESULTED IN A DISCONNECTED EXHAUST MANIFOLD (TAILPIPE), AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT INDICATED THAT DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND, HE NOTED THE SMELL OF A POSSIBLE OVERHEAT CONDITION, BUT THE ODOR WENT AWAY. HE CHECKED THE ACFT AFTER LANDING, BUT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DISCREPANCIES. HE TOOK OFF SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, AND DURING THE CLIMBOUT, SMOKE BEGAN FILLING THE CABIN. THE SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE AREA OF THE RUDDER PEDALS AND FLAMES APPEARED SOON AFTERWARDS. THE PLT TURNED BACK TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED GEARUP. THE ACFT SLID OFF THE RUNWAY AND INTO A DITCH. A FIRE ERUPTED, BUT THE PLT AND PAX ESCAPED THE ACFT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED INTERGRANULAR CRACKING OF THE CLAMP THAT CONNECTED THE TURBOCHARGER AND TAILPIPE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mooney M20M accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Mar 1992 | Mooney M20M | Youngs Bottom, West Virginia, United States | Cephas W. Jackson, JR., MD | Fatal | 2 |
| 10 Jul 1996 | Mooney M20M | Hartford, Connecticut, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Feb 1996 | Mooney M20M | Alpine, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 1997 | Mooney M20M | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 May 1997 | Mooney M20M | Madisonville, Kentucky, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jan 2000 | Mooney M20M | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Aug 1990 | Cessna 172RG | Onancock, Virginia, United States | ULF D. Uhlig | Fatal | 2 |
| 9 Sep 1990 | Cessna 182R | Evington, Virginia, United States | Shelby Aviation, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 1 Aug 1990 | Bell TH-1L | Galax, Virginia, United States | Ranger Helicopters Services | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Feb 1990 | Piper PA-28-180 | Norton, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 17 Mar 1990 | Cessna 172N | Bedford, Virginia, United States | Virginia Aviation | Fatal | 2 |
| 10 May 1990 | Cessna 210N | Shady Grove Cor, Virginia, United States | Professional Pilot Services | Fatal | 6 |