Mooney M20F N6950V

Summary

On 20 May 1997 at about 23:18 local time, a Mooney M20F registered N6950V was involved in an accident near Wheeling, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 May 1997 at 23:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Wheeling, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

42.1297, -87.9205

Aircraft

Mooney M20F

Registration

N6950V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Madison

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI97LA142

Nobody was injured.

binding of the number four exhaust valve, which resulted in a partial power loss. A factor was the ravine.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

On the first flight after maintenance, the pilot reported that on the initial climb, 'the engine stopped producing power and began behaving erratically.' The pilot declared an emergency to the controlling ATC personnel, and turned back to Palwaukee Municipal Airport. The pilot reported that the engine, 'was backfiring and sounded like only one cylinder was hitting.' The pilot selected a field to execute a forced landing, circled it twice, and landed on an easterly heading. The pilot reported that the plane, after touch down, 'skidded and rolled for about 250 yards before coming to rest on the bank of a small creek.' The pilot evacuated the airplane and waited for assistance. Examination of the number four cylinder revealed excessive black carbon build-up on the cylinder head and exhaust valve seat.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.