Mooney M20C N7773M

Summary

On 28 December 1996 at about 15:09 local time, a Mooney M20C registered N7773M, operated by Wayne A. Fleming, was involved in an accident near Roxboro, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 December 1996 at 15:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Roxboro, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Person County (TDF)

Coordinates

36.4009, -78.9797

Aircraft

Mooney M20C

Registration

N7773M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wayne A. Fleming

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Mt Airy

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL97FA029

2 people died.

failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane, due to spatial disorientation. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's use of an unapproved drug, low ceiling, restricted visibility (fog), and an undetermined anomaly with the vacuum system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), the pilot made an initial radio call to approach control (ATC), then about 35 seconds later, he annouced, 'I've just lost my vacuum.' Air traffic controllers attempted to assist the pilot, but were unable to communicate with him further. Radar data showed the airplane made a left turn and climbed to 1,400 ft. After about 270 degrees of turn, the airplane's flight path became erratic. The airplane was last depicted at 1,300 ft and 2 miles south of the airport. About 4 minutes after takeoff, it collided with wooded terrain in uncontrolled flight. During the investigation, no specific reason was found for the reported loss of vacuum; however, during impact, extensive damage of the airplane occurred. Toxicology tests of the pilot's liver fluid showed 0.345 mcg/ml codeine, 0.134 mcg/ml dextromethorphan, 0.249 mcg/ml dextrorphan, and an undetermined amount of morphine. A test of the pilot's blood indicated undetermined quantities of opiates, a class of drugs which includes codeine and morphine. Tests of kidney fluid showed 0.349 mcg/ml codeine, 0.027 mcg/ml dextromethorphan, and 0.191 mcg/ml dextrorphan. The finding of these substances is consistent with prior ingestion of codeine-containing cough syrup. Codeine, a narcotic pain reliever and cough suppressant, can produce impaired judgment, disorientation, and delayed reactions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.