Mooney M20E N1950Y

Summary

On 30 June 1989 at about 19:35 local time, a Mooney M20E registered N1950Y was involved in an accident near Weirton, West Virginia, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 June 1989 at 19:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Weirton, West Virginia, United States

Coordinates

40.4004, -80.5602

Aircraft

Mooney M20E

Registration

N1950Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Burgettstown → Carrollton

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO89LA050

3 people were seriously injured.

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO WATER IN THE FUEL AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PILOT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT STATED THAT THE PREFLIGHT INCLUDED DRAINING FUEL TO CHECK FOR WATER AND NONE WAS FOUND. HE STATED THAT ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, SHORTLY AFTER HE LEVELED AT 2300 FT MSL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON WOODED TERRAIN AND THE ACFT STRUCK SEVERAL TREES BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED WATER IN THE FUEL INJECTION SERVO UNIT, FUEL STRAINER AND ELECTRIC BOOST FUEL PUMP. THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK WAS USED DURING THE FLIGHT AND IT RUPTURED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE. ABOUT 2 OUNCES OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE FUEL TANKS WERE NOT FULL BEFORE THE FLIGHT AND THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT IN ABOUT A MONTH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.