What happened
On February 12, 2018, a Mooney M20K airplane, registration N123JN, was flying from Harvey Field in Snohomish, Washington, to Bellingham International Airport (BLI) for maintenance. The flight was conducted under night visual meteorological conditions.
At 1851, the aircraft departed S43 and climbed to 4,300 feet mean sea level. At approximately 1907, the aircraft began a slow descent. At 1911, the pilot contacted the Bellingham air traffic control tower, reporting a position 14 miles south of the airport and requesting a straight-in approach. The controller cleared the pilot for a visual approach to runway 34 and instructed the pilot to report when 3 miles from the airport. No further radio communications were made.
Flight track data showed the descent rate increased to approximately 700 feet per minute during the final stages of the flight. The aircraft's last recorded position was at 1913:08, at an altitude of 1,975 feet mean sea level, approximately 9 miles south-southeast of the airport. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the north face of Chuckanut Mountain in Larrabee State Park. The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the initial impact occurred in tall trees on a ridge at an elevation of 1,900 feet mean sea level. The debris path spanned 1,200 feet. The wings exhibited indentations consistent with high-speed tree strikes in level flight. The engine examination showed mechanical continuity, and a borescope revealed no pre-accident anomalies in the cylinders, pistons, or valves. The magnetos produced spark, and the turbocharger showed no issues. Engine data monitor downloads indicated the engine was operating normally until the moment of impact.
Flight control components, including pushrods, showed damage consistent with impact and tension overload. The forward pitch trim actuator was found in a position beyond the normal range in the full nose-down direction. An autopsy of the pilot determined the cause of death was massive trauma, and toxicology results were negative for drugs and alcohol.