Mooney M20B N74706
29 May 1999 · Mesquite, Texas, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 29 May 1999 at about 17:03 local time, a Mooney M20B registered N74706 was involved in an accident near Mesquite, Texas, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 died, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:03
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mesquite, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Mesquite Metro Airport (HQZ)
- Coordinates
- 32.7310, -96.5610
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20B
- Registration
- N74706
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW99FA153
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
The failure by both pilots to maintain visual lookout. A factor was the inadequate radio communications maintained by both pilots while in the traffic pattern.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A low-wing airplane (Mooney) turned from left base to final approach and descended into a high-wing airplane (Cessna) that was established on final for the same runway. Day VFR conditions prevailed at the CTAF equipped non-towered airport at the time of the collision. According to witnesses, both pilots were announcing their position on the CTAF. The Cessna was executing a practice straight in ILS approach to the runway. The instrument student in the Cessna reported reaching DH altitude for the practice approach (250 feet agl). The collision occurred within 4 to 6 seconds after the flaps on the Cessna were extended while at 65 knots and approximately 150 to 200 feet agl. Tire tracks found atop the left wing and left flap of the Cessna were matched with the main and nose landing gear of the Mooney. Paint transfers from the bottom of the right wing of the Mooney were found atop the fuselage and upper portions of the windscreen on the Cessna. The tire imprints, paint transfers, and other marks corresponded to the Mooney being above and to the rear of the Cessna 172.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mooney M20B M20B | N74706 | - | Destroyed |
| Cessna 172P 172P | N96868 | Monarch Aviation | Destroyed |
Other Mooney M20B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jul 1999 | Mooney M20B | Hayward, Wisconsin, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Oct 2002 | Mooney M20B | Loa, Utah, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 2003 | Mooney M20B | Leonardtown, Maryland, United States | Ronald Shields | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 1993 | Mooney M20B | Santa Paula, California, United States | Hellner, John F. | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Oct 1993 | Mooney M20B | Bethpage, Tennessee, United States | Quearry, Carlos G. | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 Aug 1993 | Mooney M20B | Landover, Maryland, United States | Thomas N Thompson | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Oct 1999 | Sturges SPEZIO SPORT | Mathis, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 8 May 1999 | Cessna 172M | Lancaster, Texas, United States | Marvin E. Scott | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 May 1999 | Grumman-Schweizer G164-B | Garwood, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jan 1999 | Cessna 150H | Nemo, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 1999 | Swearingen SA-227-AC | San Antonio, Texas, United States | Merlin Express | No injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 1999 | Air Tractor AT-402 | Snyder, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |