History of Flight
On September 30, 2009, at 1237 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20M airplane, N400DE, was substantially damaged during a post-impact fire after colliding with trees and terrain near Albany, Indiana. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by N400DE, LLC, Ada, Michigan, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operating on an instrument flight plan. The personal flight originated from Gerald R. Ford International Airport (KGRR) near Grand Rapids, Michigan, about 0927.
At 0831, the pilot contacted the Kankakee Automated Flight Service Station to file an instrument flight rules flight plan and obtain a standard weather briefing. The planned route was KGRR direct to the Traverse City VORTAC at 25,000 feet, with a return to KGRR. After filing, the briefer provided a standard weather briefing.
At 0918, the pilot contacted Grand Rapids ground control for taxi clearance, stating he would practice touch-and-go landings before picking up his IFR clearance. After departure at 0927, the pilot performed two touch-and-goes before requesting his instrument clearance at 0942. The flight was cleared to various altitudes and eventually to FL250. At 1009:44, as the airplane climbed through 24,200 feet, the controller asked the pilot's intentions upon reaching the TVC VORTAC. The pilot's response was unintelligible. No additional audio communications were received thereafter.
The flight continued northbound, reaching FL250 at 1011:10. At 1038:59, the airplane crossed over the TVC VORTAC and turned southbound direct toward KGRR. The controller attempted to reestablish contact without success. At 1042:24, the controller cleared the flight to descend to 17,000 feet with no response. The flight continued southbound at FL250. At 1106:19, the airplane passed directly over KGRR at FL250.
At 1133:43, the flight was intercepted by two National Guard F-16 fighter jets at FL250 over Columbia City, Indiana. The F-16s followed the airplane. At 1151:58, one F-16 pilot reported the accident pilot was unresponsive, lying against the pilot-side cockpit window, possibly hypoxic. At 1216:37, the airplane began a slow descent from FL250, then turned to a southeast heading and entered a more rapid descent. The last radar return was at 1236:19, at 6,100 feet. The airplane subsequently collided with trees and a cornfield. A postimpact fire destroyed most of the fuselage.
Pilot Information
The pilot, age 43, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single and multi-engine land and instrument ratings, and an expired flight instructor certificate. His last aviation medical examination was on August 22, 2007, when he was issued a second-class medical certificate with no limitations. As of August 30, 2009, he had accumulated 1,595.1 hours total flight time, 1,275.4 hours in single-engine airplanes, and 427.7 hours in the accident airplane since September 26, 2003. His most recent flight review and instrument competency check were completed in March 2009.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane was a 2003 Mooney M20M, serial number 27-0320, a low-wing, all-metal, single-engine, four-place monoplane with a Lycoming TIO-540-AF1B engine and McCauley three-blade propeller. It was equipped for instrument flight and known icing conditions. The last annual inspection was on April 13, 2009, at 450.6 hours. Total fuel capacity was 95 gallons (89 usable). The airplane was serviced with 50 gallons before departure. It was equipped with two Garmin GNS 530 units and a Honeywell KC225 autopilot. The airplane had a four-place oxygen system with an oxygen cylinder in the aft equipment bay. The most recent oxygen cylinder service was on March 31, 2009. A fully charged cylinder provides about 16 hours of supplemental oxygen at 25,000 feet for pilot-only operations.
Meteorological Information
The closest weather reporting facility was Delaware County Regional Airport (KMIE), Muncie, Indiana, about 12.5 miles west-southwest of the accident site. At 1253, the ASOS reported wind 350 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 miles, overcast ceiling at 3,300 feet, temperature 13°C, dew point 4°C, altimeter 30.14 inHg.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane collided with several trees before impacting a cornfield. The wreckage debris path was 180 feet long on a northerly heading. The left wing was found suspended in trees; the right wing was on the ground. The main wreckage included the fuselage, engine, and propeller. An extensive postimpact ground fire destroyed the cabin and cockpit. The fuel selector was positioned to the right tank. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were found. The oxygen cylinder was found with the shutoff valve in the "ON" position, but the control knob assembly on the cabin floor was consistent with the system being "OFF"; however, its position could have been altered by impact or fire.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy attributed the pilot's cause of death to multiple blunt force injuries. Arteriosclerotic heart disease and the possibility of environmental hypoxia were cited as contributory factors. The report noted 55% and 75% stenosis of the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries, respectively. Toxicology tests detected no carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, or drugs.
Additional Information
Federal aviation regulations require supplemental oxygen for the minimum flight crew at cabin pressure altitudes above 12,500 feet for periods over 30 minutes, above 14,000 feet at all times, and above 15,000 feet for all occupants. The Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge states that at 25,000 feet, a pilot can expect 3 to 5 minutes of useful consciousness without supplemental oxygen.