Mooney M20J N4498H

Summary

On 30 March 2001 at about 21:10 local time, a Mooney M20J registered N4498H was involved in an accident near Pecos, Texas, 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

30 March 2001 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Pecos, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Pecos Municipal (PEQ)

Coordinates

31.3993, -103.5002

Aircraft

Mooney M20J

Registration

N4498H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pecos → Henderson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW01LA090

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to obtain a proper glide path during landing, which resulted in the airplane's impact with terrain short of the runway. Contributory factors were the open baggage door and the pilot's diverted attention to the open door.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was climbing through 5,500 feet when the pilot heard a loud noise and felt a rush of air. The pilot turned around and noticed that the baggage door was open. He elected to return and land at the departure airport. The pilot stated that his reference paper with the traffic pattern altitude written on it was blown away with the rush of air. He entered downwind low and continued a low approach until final where he attempted to add power to arrest his descent rate. The airplane continued to sink and impacted the ground short of the runway with the right wing low.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.