Mooney M20J N201ZM

Summary

On 10 March 2003 at about 01:36 local time, a Mooney M20J registered N201ZM was involved in an accident near Tower, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 March 2003 at 01:36

Classification

Accident

Location

Tower, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

45.3528, -84.3439

Aircraft

Mooney M20J

Registration

N201ZM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pontiac → Cheboygan

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CHI03FA080

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during cruise flight. A factor to the accident was the clouds and night conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft departed controlled flight during cruise flight and impacted terrain. The flight was operating at night in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). While en route the pilot reported that the airplane was "in the soup" and he wanted to return to the departure airport. The controller cleared the pilot to climb to 7,000 feet msl and fly direct to the departure airport. The pilot confirmed the clearance and there were no additional radio transmissions received from the accident airplane. The aircraft impacted wooded terrain in a near vertical attitude. No pre-impact anomalies were found with the airframe, powerplant, propeller, or accessories.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.