Mooney M20E N5703Q

Summary

On 17 November 1990 at about 18:50 local time, a Mooney M20E registered N5703Q, operated by Story, David L., was involved in an accident near Tuba City, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 November 1990 at 18:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Tuba City, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

36.0895, -111.1310

Aircraft

Mooney M20E

Registration

N5703Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Story, David L.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Grand Canyon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91LA033

2 people had minor injuries.

FAILURE OF THE PISTON RINGS WHICH REDUCED THE AVAILABLE ENGINE POWER, AND THE PILOT'S CONTINUED OPERATION OF HIS AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN ENGINE DEFICIENCY DURING THE RELATIVELY HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT HAD REPEATEDLY EXPERIENCED A ROUGH RUNNING ENG DURING HIS CROSS-COUNTRY FLT FROM SANTE FE. HE HAD ALSO OBSERVED HIGH ENG AND OIL TEMPS. HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AND REQUESTED THAT A MECHANIC REPAIR THE ENG. HE THEN TOOK OFF AND CONTINUED HIS PLANNED FLIGHT. ONCE AGAIN THE ENG RAN ROUGH, AND HE MADE ANOTHER PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. HE EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND ADDED FIVE QUARTS OF OIL TO THE ENG. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE ENG AGAIN RAN ROUGH. THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE END OF THE 2,000 FT DIRT RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG REVEALED BROKEN RINGS IN TWO PISTONS, AND ALL OTHER PISTON RINGS HAD LOST THEIR TEMPER. DENSITY ALTITUDE ESTIMATED 6.700 FT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.