Mooney M20J N4072H

Summary

On 3 September 1999 at about 22:30 local time, a Mooney M20J registered N4072H, operated by Charles H. Yessick, was involved in an accident near Gainesville, Georgia, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 September 1999 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Gainesville, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

34.3509, -83.8996

Aircraft

Mooney M20J

Registration

N4072H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Charles H. Yessick

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL99FA122

3 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain flying speed which resulted in a stall and the subsequent collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses near the accident site recall observing the airplane in level flight at approximately 2000 feet above the ground. Other witnesses near the accident site reported hearing the engine lose power and then regain power, but are unclear as to whether the engine lost power a second time before colliding with the ground. They then observed the airplane pitch up and then spiral nose-down until it collided with the ground. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane rested on the ground in a nose low attitude. Debris from the airplane was scattered within an area 60 feet square. The engine and propeller assemblies were buried several inches into the ground. Examination of the engine assembly and the airframe failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or a component failure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.