History of Flight
On March 28, 2017, at 0615 central daylight time, a Mooney M20J, registration N643RJ, collided with trees and terrain shortly after takeoff from Monroe County Airport (M40) in Aberdeen, Mississippi. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was owned by the pilot and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed near the accident site, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight to Bruce Campbell Field Airport (MBO), Madison, Mississippi.
The pilot and passenger departed M40 about 0614 for the 1-hour flight. GPS data indicated that after departing runway 18, the airplane climbed and made a slight left turn to a heading of about 178° magnetic at 417 ft mean sea level (msl) while over airport property. It then performed a climbing right turn to a heading of 233°, reaching a maximum altitude of about 600 ft msl before entering a right turning descent. The airplane continued its descending turn until it impacted trees and terrain on a heading of about 318° about 2,500 ft west of the departure end of the runway.
Video and audio from the airport security system showed dark night conditions but did not capture the airplane due to light and weather conditions. Audio recorded the engine sound during takeoff roll, initial climb, and throughout the accident sequence; the sound remained constant until impact. Radar data from Columbus Air Force Base (CBM) showed four targets correlated with the airplane: first target at 400 ft msl and 70 knots southbound, next two targets at 600 ft msl and 70 knots, and the last target in a descending right turn at 500 ft msl.
Personnel Information
According to FAA records, the pilot, age 73, held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multi-engine land, single-engine sea, and glider. He also held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multi-engine and instrument airplane, and type ratings in CE-500, LR-60, and LR-Jet. The pilot reported 24,800 total flight hours and 120 hours in the previous 6 months as of his most recent FAA medical examination on March 9, 2017. His most recent flight review was completed on July 5, 2016.
Aircraft Information
The Mooney M20J was manufactured in 1980 with a normal category airworthiness certificate. It was a single-engine, low-wing, four-place airplane powered by a 200-horsepower fuel-injected Lycoming engine with a two-blade constant-speed propeller. The airframe and engine had accumulated 2,873 hours total time and 908 hours since major overhaul. The most recent annual inspection was completed on March 23, 2017, and the accident flight was its first flight since; an engine test run after inspection showed no discrepancies.
Meteorological Information
The closest reporting station, Columbus Air Force Base (CBM), at 0603 reported wind from 150° at 4 knots, 8 miles visibility, broken clouds at 1,800 ft agl, overcast at 2,400 ft agl, temperature 18°C, dew point 18°C, and altimeter 29.93 inHg. Light conditions were dark; civil twilight began at 0622 and sunrise at 0647, about 7 and 30 minutes after takeoff, respectively.
Airport Information
Monroe County Airport (M40) is a public airport located 4 miles northeast of Aberdeen, Mississippi. Elevation is 225.8 ft msl, with a 4,999-ft long by 75-ft wide asphalt runway oriented 18/36. The airport is surrounded by sparsely populated, heavily wooded terrain to the south and west.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was located 2,500 ft west-southwest of the departure end of runway 18 in heavily wooded terrain. The wreckage path was oriented on a heading of about 318° and was about 400 ft long. All major components were present; there was no pre- or postimpact fire. Examination indicated the airplane impacted tree tops in a right-wing-low attitude. The right wing separated first, and trees near the impact site were cut progressively lower. Both wings and the entire empennage separated from the airframe. The fuselage and cockpit came to rest inverted against trees in a left 45°-nose-down attitude with the engine partially buried. The propeller spinner was crushed; one blade separated and exhibited twisting, s-bending, and chordwise abrasion; the other blade remained attached but was bent aft. Multiple branches showed cuts consistent with propeller contact.
Engine examination revealed internal continuity, compression and suction on all cylinders, and correct valve action. The oil suction screen and filter were undamaged. The propeller governor was in the maximum rpm position, and cockpit propeller control was full-forward. The fuel injector servo had a separated mixture control arm shaft; other components showed no anomalies. The engine-driven fuel pump and magnetos functioned normally. Flight control continuity was confirmed; control rods showed bending and breakage consistent with overload. The instrument panel showed impact damage; magneto switch was in "both" position, master switch on, throttle and propeller controls full-forward, mixture control about 1/2 inch from full-forward, landing gear switch up. Data from a JPI engine monitor indicated engine operation without anomaly throughout the flight.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy of the pilot by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office determined the cause of death as blunt force injuries and the manner as accident. The autopsy noted an enlarged heart (480 grams) and moderate coronary atherosclerosis with 50% stenosis in the left anterior descending coronary artery. Toxicology testing by the FAA identified amlodipine, metoprolol, and yohimbine in liver and subclavian blood; amlodipine and metoprolol are blood pressure medications not considered impairing. Testing was negative for carbon monoxide and ethanol.
Weight and Balance
Review of the pilot's operating manual indicated a maximum gross takeoff weight of 2,740 lbs. The pilot weighed about 240 lbs, the passenger 235 lbs (seated in the right rear seat), and there were about 50 gallons (300 lbs) of fuel and about 20 lbs of personal effects. The calculated takeoff weight was about 2,620 lbs, 120 lbs below maximum, and the center of gravity was within limits.
Spatial Disorientation
The FAA Airplane Flying Handbook describes hazards associated with obscured visual references. The vestibular sense (inner ear motion sensing) can confuse pilots due to inertia, leading to false sensations of attitude changes and spatial disorientation.