Mooney M20-M Crash N9156Z Victoria MN 8/7/21

LINKS:

[blancolirio]

Note: I'm referring to the sheet metal joint on the wing NOT the continuous wing spar.

[BLD]

Just a note to those of you that think this is all just snuff entertainment. We pilots want to know every little detail of this kind of thing so we don't repeat it. Especially when you're riding with us.

[jerrylentz]

Let me tell you what it's like for a very low time (approx 100 hrs) newly licensed pilot to fly into a cloud at night. Scenario - I was stationed in New Orleans in the mid 1960s on active duty with the Coast Guard and got my Private SEL at New Orleans Lakefront airport. I loved to fly at night and was gung-ho about learning about instrument flying. I would occasionally fly out over Lake Pontchartrain at night on clear VFR nights to simulate instrument flight. One night, I was flying a Cessna 172 with a couple of non-pilot Coast Guard buddies out west of New Orleans. Suddenly, the cockpit was lit up with the reflection of my outside navigation lights from inside a cloud. I immediately went on the instruments and started a standard rate left turn. During the course of the turn, my muscles tightened up in my arms and it felt like I was putting about 50 lbs of forward pressure on the yoke to keep the instruments right. I didn't dare look away from the instrument panel until one of my passengers said he could see a light. The instruments were saying one thing and my body wanted to do something else and it was both mentally and physically very stressful. After getting clear of the cloud, I noticed that despite my virtual downforce, I had climbed about 100 ft during the turn-around. It was an unbelievably scary experience.

[alantoon]

The NTSB spokesman stated that the plane had been descending at over 5, 000 fpm before the crash, and also advised that pieces of the left hand horizontal stab and elevator were found two blocks away from the impact area. The spokesman also said there was some data available from the aircraft.
It looks like it was what you said. A loss of situational awareness followed by the high rate of descent, and a last minute hard pull that overstressed the aircraft.
This reminds me of an airshow I went to many years ago at Dobbins AFB. The local ANG had one of their F-4's on display. Someone walked up and asked the guy behind the rope if the Phantom was an "all weather" aircraft. The GBTR replied: "Yes, the F-4 is an all weather aircraft, but the pilots are not always all weather pilots.." . So true.
A good pilot always knows his limitations...and his aircraft's. Another good report, Juan.

[REDMAN]

I was flying my Cessna 140 with a retired UAL Captain in the right seat. I was doing some maneuvres just learned and lost control. That airplane got up to 160 mph very quick. My passenger was coaching me not to pull up too hard. I was extremely amazed how fast that airplane accelerated going straight down. Learned a good lesson.

[daleair]

Whether you’re covering fire, drought or aircraft, you do a GREAT job.

[Capt_Tarmac]

Absolutely brilliant evaluation. The crash location is 3 miles from our house and family friend witnessed the crash. It indeed was overcast at the time of the accident with showers and heavier weather at times throughout the day. I’ve flown thousands of hours from KFCM and your explanation was exactly what I’ve shared with friends and neighbors. I’m retired from Delta/Northwest with 41 years and 30k hours. Well done as usual Juan, blue side up.

[charlesv]

I’ve been a passenger in a MOONEY on several occasions with a pilot friend of mine, it’s a great little airplane, really fast, a bit tight inside but comfortable, again Juan thanks for helping us non aviators to fully understand what happened in this unfortunate accident

[eds]

Thanks Juan for covering these types of GA accidents, while unfortunate we can all learn from them. As you noted, the Mooney is sleek, fast and sexy looking, but as attractive as those attributes are they can work against you if you’re not on top of your game. Reminds us that while we may have an Instrument rating, instrument proficiency and experience in actual IMC is critical, especially in a high performance single like the Mooney. I remember my first instructors warning when I expressed interest in the Mooney, “fast, but unforgiving.”

[julzb]

Horrible year for GA accidents. Thank you for your report and analysis Juan.

[fishhisy]

I lost the engine on an e model in February, 100 feet off the ground shortly after take off. Landed on a highway overpass. Rear ended a car.

[artarnaud]

Instead of voluntarily training in the simulator every six months, I now train in the simulator with my instrument flight instructor every other month. Even though the insurance company doesn’t care about my proficiency.

[dobermanpac]

I’m 70 now and don’t even drive my car on bad weather days.
I’m still fearless, not foolish🤠

[zxguy]

Great job Juan. I'm not an IFR pilot but owned a M20 with the 200hp and logged over 1200 hours in 7 years with never an incident. I knew my limitation and respected the characteristics of this slippery aircraft. If you're not on your game, this aircraft will fly you.

[Motogeek]

Thanks for the excellent video, Juan. I wondered if you would cover this one. The two passengers were a well-known couple from my home town.

[johnthorp]

Just would like to say Dr.Edney was a tenant at the Millard Airport were iam employed. It always hits you hard when you know the pilot in these incidents, no matter what the issue were. Thank you for you incite!

[richb]

Excellent analysis with little to no speculation as the video and pictures showed the wings folded up and the pieces of the aircraft found away from the crash site. What cannot be known is what the pilot was thinking or wat control inputs were made. We do know there was some kind of structural failure. Good job Juan.

[greggyd]

A LOT of crashes lately...disturbing. Keeping you busy man! Thanks for your updates.

[geofiggy]

Another sad state of events JB. Very sad RIP to the surgeon and his family.
Thanks for your updates and new reporting.
Take care and fly safe. 🖖🏽🤟🏽

[Trevor_Austin]

Learning later in life immediately puts you on the back foot. Experience in life is not sufficient to overcome inexperience in the air. Also you get considerably less bold as you get older and to be honest, many older pilots are a pain in the arse with instructors and examiners. This often means the scary bits of flying are not taught in as much depth as they should be and too many are passed when maybe they should not. I can remember many times when I flew and had an attack of the leans and I have also lost control in the air (through gross stupidity). Each of these was a learning experience that made me a better pilot. Where age and relative inexperience bites you in the arse is not recognising when things are starting to go wrong and not taking the correct action when they do.

ps. Experience is not long haul 30, 000 hours with two landings every month, it’s 30, 000 flights in various conditions over various terrains.