Mooney M20F N7038V

Summary

On 19 April 2000 at about 21:33 local time, a Mooney M20F registered N7038V was involved in an accident near Tomball, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one 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

19 April 2000 at 21:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Tomball, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

David Wayne Hooks (DWH)

Coordinates

30.0895, -95.6101

Aircraft

Mooney M20F

Registration

N7038V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Conroe → San Marcos

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00LA127

1 person had minor injuries.

Engine seizure due to the rupture of an oil cooler line.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was climbing through 4,000 feet msl when the engine rpm increased, and the engine oil pressure dropped to zero. The pilot reported the situation to departure control and they vectored the airplane toward the nearest airport. The engine began to shake violently for about 15 seconds and then seized. The pilot elected to land in a field short of the runway. The airplane touched down approximately wings level with the landing gear retracted, and 'slid through the field for roughly 125 feet' before coming to a stop. The pilot stated he did not lower the landing gear due to the need for altitude and airspeed to reach the field. Examination of the engine revealed that the #4 connecting rod was sticking out of the crankcase. Further examination revealed that an oil cooler line had ruptured. The last annual inspection was completed on March 19, 2000, eight flight hours prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.