Mooney M20-J N57287
15 July 1993 · Jackson, Mississippi, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 15 July 1993 at about 13:03 local time, a Mooney M20-J registered N57287, operated by Gray, Thomas W., was involved in an accident near Jackson, Mississippi, United States. 4 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 13:03
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Jackson, Mississippi, United States
- Nearest airport
- Jackson Intl (JAN)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20-J
- Registration
- N57287
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Gray, Thomas W.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → College Station
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA93FA156
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
A POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS DURING TAKEOFF, THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, AND HIS IMPROPER DECISION TO TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT WHEN THERE WAS SUITABLE TERRAIN AHEAD FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
BOTH WITNESSES ON THE GROUND AND THE PASSENGERS STATED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT SEEM TO PRODUCE ADEQUATE POWER, AND THE AIRPLANE USED THE ENTIRE 8,000-FT RUNWAY TO BECOME AIRBORNE. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT RADIOED TO THE TOWER THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEMS AND WAS RETURNING. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO TURN LEFT IN A STEEP TURN ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. IT THEN COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE GROUND. THERE WAS OPEN TERRAIN AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. CYLINDER COMPRESSION WAS FOUND TO BE 40/80, 30/80, 42/80 AND 72/80. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. THE AIRPLANE WAS MODIFIED TO INCREASE THE TAKEOFF MANIFOLD PRESSURE FROM 36 TO 38.5 IN HG. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE HAD QUIT WHILE TAXIING FROM LANDING. A MECHANIC STATED THAT HE ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE LINKAGE TO INCREASE THE IDLE SETTING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mooney M20 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr 1994 | Mooney M20-J | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 May 1994 | Mooney M20-J | Apalachicola, Florida, United States | Plymel, Daryll G. | No injuries | - |
| 23 Apr 1994 | Mooney M20-C | Page, Arizona, United States | John M. Dawson | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1992 | Mooney M20-M | Sedona, Arizona, United States | McPartland Enterprises Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 30 Dec 1995 | Mooney M20 | Eastover, South Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 1991 | Mooney M20 | Little River, California, United States | John & Sharon Mitchell | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Dec 1993 | Piper PA-28-161 | Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 May 1993 | Beechcraft F33A | Oxford, Mississippi, United States | Hunter, Charles B. | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 Sep 1993 | Cessna 172H | Liberty, Mississippi, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Apr 1993 | Smith FW2C80TD | Lucedale, Mississippi, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 6 Jan 1993 | Cessna 150H | Holly Springs, Mississippi, United States | Shaw, George B. | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 1993 | Mooney M20J | Magee, Mississippi, United States | Capps, William R. | Minor injuries | - |