Mooney 20E N1275X

Summary

On 20 December 2003 at about 20:10 local time, a Mooney 20E registered N1275X, operated by Peter C. Naab, was involved in an accident near Webster, Wisconsin, 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

20 December 2003 at 20:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Webster, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Voyager Village Airstrip (9WN2)

Coordinates

45.9086, -92.2522

Aircraft

Mooney 20E

Registration

N1275X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Peter C. Naab

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Webster → Minneapolis

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04FA045

2 people died.

The pilot's inadequate decision to conduct a low altitude flight maneuver without sufficient altitude to maintain clearance from the terrain. Low altitude flight and ostentatious display are contributing factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was destroyed while maneuvering at low altitude when it impacted an ice covered lake in a steep nose down attitude. One witness reported that he observed the pilot preflight and start the airplane. He reported that the airplane sounded "okay" during taxi and takeoff. Witnesses to the accident reported seeing the airplane flying low over the lake. One witness stated the airplane's altitude was between 60 - 100 feet above ground level (agl). The witnesses reported seeing the airplane enter a steep climb to about 300 feet agl. Then the airplane reversed direction and entered a steep descent and impacted the ice. One witness reported the airplane "went straight up in the air about 200 feet, made a hairpin turn, and came straight down, hitting the ice nose first." The engine, landing gear, and cockpit of the cabin broke through the ice and remained submerged. The wings and the rest of the fuselage were intact and remained on top of the ice. The post accident inspection of the airplane revealed no preexisting anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. One witness reported that it was common for the pilot to do low passes and maneuver at low altitude. Another witness reported that it was not uncommon for the pilot to perform "crop duster turns" at low altitudes.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.