Mooney M20J N201VZ

Summary

On 12 February 2022 at about 02:06 local time, a Mooney M20J registered N201VZ, operated by Aviation Partners SA LLC, was involved in an accident near Katy, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 February 2022 at 02:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Katy, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.8242, -95.6758

Aircraft

Mooney M20J

Registration

N201VZ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Aviation Partners SA LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Castroville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN22LA118

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath while on the final approach segment of the traffic pattern in dark night conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was approaching the destination airport in dark night conditions when it collided with trees, impacted terrain, and came to rest about 500 ft before the runway threshold. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. Neither occupant could remember the events of the accident flight. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, data recovered from multiple devices that contained non-volatile memory revealed no anomalies with recorded engine parameters and that all flight parameters were consistent with controlled flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.