Mooney M20K N5697N

Summary

On 27 December 1999 at about 12:10 local time, a Mooney M20K registered N5697N, operated by John P. McDaniel, was involved in an accident near McAlester, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 December 1999 at 12:10

Classification

Accident

Location

McAlester, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

McAlester Megional (MLC)

Coordinates

34.9194, -95.7598

Aircraft

Mooney M20K

Registration

N5697N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

John P. McDaniel

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Altus

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

FTW00FA053

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors were the pilot's impairment (drugs), the deployed right speed brake, and the night conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane impacted heavily wooded and rocky terrain during an uncontrolled descent from cruise climb in night visual meteorological conditions. Toxicological tests were positive for tramadol at therapeutic concentrations, and phenobarbital, nordiazepam, chlorepheniramine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine. The pilot had a history of substance abuse. It is reasonable to conclude that the pilot was impaired by the use of or withdrawal from the effects of such medications at the time of the accident. The airplane's left wing speed brake was found in the stowed position, and the right wing speed brake was found deployed. FAA verified that flight test results provided by the speed brake manufacturer indicated no significant effect on handling qualities with one speed brake deployed. No evidence of an in-flight fire was found at the accident site. No evidence of uncorrected discrepancies was found in the maintenance records. No evidence of an in-flight mechanical and/or flight control malfunction was found that would have rendered the airplane uncontrollable prior to the impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.