Mooney M20K N94276

Summary

On 23 February 1989 at about 00:45 local time, a Mooney M20K registered N94276, operated by Performance Aircraft, Inc., was involved in an accident near Incline Village, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 February 1989 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Incline Village, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

36.0800, -115.1398

Aircraft

Mooney M20K

Registration

N94276

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Performance Aircraft, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Reno → Hayward

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

SEA89FA050

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WHEN TROUBLESHOOTING SURGING FUEL PRESSURE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS SNOW CONDITIONS WHICH IMPAIRED THE PILOT'S ABILITY TO MAKE A PROPER FORCED LANDING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING OFF AT CRUISE, THE PILOT NOTED A LOSS OF FUEL FLOW. THE PILOT TURNED THE FUEL BOOST PUMP ON AND FUEL FLOW RETURNED TO NORMAL. WITH THE FUEL BOOST PUMP OFF THE FUEL FLOW DROPPED BELOW 6 GPH AND THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE DIED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RESTART, BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS INTO HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE AND THEN ROLLED INVERTED BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND. POST-ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND TEST RUN IN A TEST CELL. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.