Mooney M20C N9187V

Summary

On 20 April 2000 at about 21:15 local time, a Mooney M20C registered N9187V, operated by Chris J. Drago, was involved in an accident near Middletown, Rhode Island, United States. 2 people were on board and 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.

Date

20 April 2000 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Middletown, Rhode Island, United States

Nearest airport

Newport State Airport (UUU)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Mooney M20C

Registration

N9187V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Chris J. Drago

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC00LA117

2 people had minor injuries.

an inadequate preflight inspection by the pilot which did not detect the water in the fuel tanks prior to departure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he preflighted the airplane, which included draining the fuel tanks prior to departure. During departure, when the airplane was about 80 to 100 feet above the ground, the engine experienced a power loss. Due to trees off the departure end of the runway, the pilot initiated a right turn to land on another runway and remain on airport. The airplane contacted the ground in a right bank. Examination of the airplane revealed water in the fuel tanks, the fuel line leading to the carburetor, and in the carburetor bowl. The pilot reported that he drained the fuel tanks with a plastic cup that came with the airplane. He further added, 'he did not drain enough fuel' [to detect the water].

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.