Mooney 20F N2996L

Summary

On 28 December 2003 at about 18:10 local time, a Mooney 20F registered N2996L, operated by Floyd C. Redmond, was involved in an accident near Campobello, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 December 2003 at 18:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Campobello, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.1806, -82.0639

Aircraft

Mooney 20F

Registration

N2996L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Floyd C. Redmond

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Petersburg → Live Oak

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL04FA061

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering for an emergency landing resulting in an inadvertent stall and a collision with trees and the ground during an uncontrolled descent. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot obtained fuel before departing on the cross country flight. Two witnesses on the ground heard and observed the airplane approaching their location. The airplane was about 100 to 200 feet above the trees. One witnesses stated the airplanes engine was heard to increase in power, decrease in power, and increase in power again. The other witnesses stated the engine was making a popping sound, while the engine was cutting in and out. The airplane was observed to make a steep right turn and the right wing was perpendicular to the ground. The nose of the airplane pitched down and the airplane disappeared from view. The Flight Manual states the airplane will stall at 98 MPH without extended flaps at a 60-degree bank angle. Examination of the crash site revealed the right main fuel cap tab was secured. The left main fuel cap tab was in the open position. Examination of the airframe and engine assembly revealed no anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.