Mooney M20F N2920L
17 May 1992 · Glendive, Montana, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 17 May 1992 at about 17:25 local time, a Mooney M20F registered N2920L, operated by Fischer, Richard C. & Verril J, was involved in an accident near Glendive, Montana, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Glendive, Montana, United States
- Nearest airport
- Dawson Community (GDV)
- Coordinates
- 47.1191, -104.8707
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F
- Registration
- N2920L
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Fischer, Richard C. & Verril J
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Minot
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA92FA101
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT, AND THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF AND THE AIRCRAFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT OF THE MOONEY M20F RETRACTED HIS LANDING GEAR ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TIRES LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY. HE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHILE FLYING VERY LOW OVER THE AIRFIELD, AND THEN EXECUTED A STEEP RIGHT HAND 180 DEGREE TURNING PULL-UP. NUMEROUS PILOT-RATED WITNESSES STATED THAT DURING THIS PULL-UP THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE FLYING JUST ON THE EDGE OF A STALL. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO THE APPROACH END OF THE AIRFIELD, ENTERED A DESCENDING TURN AND THEN EXECUTED A HIGH SPEED, LOW LEVEL PASS. DURING THIS PASS A HELIUM FILLED BALLOON WAS RELEASED FOR THE PILOT TO ATTEMPT TO BURST WITH THE AIRCRAFT'S PROPELLER. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS PASS, THE PILOT MADE A RAPID CLIMBING PULL-UP TO THE LEFT, REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE BANK ANGLE AT THE TOP OF THE CLIMBING TURN WAS ESTIMATED BY THE WITNESSES TO BE APPROXIMATELY 50 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT MAINTAINED APPROXIMATELY THE SAME ANGLE OF BANK AS IT DESCENDED TOWARD THE TERRAIN, ULTIMATELY IMPACTING NEAR THE RUNWAY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mooney M20F accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Dec 1992 | Mooney M20F | So. Lake Tahoe, California, United States | Charles Downing | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jul 1992 | Mooney M20F | Eufaula, Alabama, United States | Brown, Carl A. | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 May 1992 | Mooney M20F | Johnstown, New York, United States | Joesph Benanto/John A. Pepe | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Oct 1992 | Mooney M20F | Johnson City, Tennessee, United States | Glogowski, Stefan W. | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Jan 1991 | Mooney M20F | Pageland, South Carolina, United States | Blackwell, Billy | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 Aug 1991 | Mooney M20F | Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States | James H. Flynn | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 1992 | Swearingen SA-226TC | Billings, Montana, United States | Big Sky Transportation Co | No injuries | - |
| 20 May 1992 | Schweizer SGS-1-35C | Big Timber, Montana, United States | Ridge Runners Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 14 May 1992 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Kalispell, Montana, United States | Morgan Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 29 Dec 1992 | Aero Commander AC-500B | Billings, Montana, United States | Corporate Air | No injuries | - |
| 16 May 1992 | E E Shilling Q-2 | Billings, Montana, United States | Michael R. Moore | No injuries | - |
| 29 May 1992 | Piper PA-28-140 | Monarch, Montana, United States | Chamberlain, Dwight N. | Minor injuries | - |