Mooney M20E N3357X

Summary

On 29 April 1992 at about 18:30 local time, a Mooney M20E registered N3357X, operated by Stephen P. Mueller, was involved in an accident near Adamstown, Maryland, 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

29 April 1992 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Adamstown, Maryland, United States

Coordinates

39.2896, -77.4496

Aircraft

Mooney M20E

Registration

N3357X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Stephen P. Mueller

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gaithersburg → Adamstown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO92FA050

1 person died.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING FLIGHT IN THE AREA OF SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT AND CRASHED. A WITNESS SAW AN AIRPLANE DIVE TOWARD THE GROUND, BUT IT WENT OUT OF HIS VIEW BEHIND THE MOUNTAIN. HE DID NOT HEAR A CRASH AND ASSUMED THE AIRPLANE HAD RECOVERED FROM THE DIVE. LATER IN THE DAY, THE PILOT'S WIFE REPORTED THE AIRPLANE WAS OVERDUE. ABOUT 24 HOURS LATER, THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A WOODED AREA ON THE EAST SLOPE OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE AIRPLANE HAD IMPACTED THE EAST SLOPE AT ABOUT A 70 DEG ANGLE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.