Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Montrose, Colorado 81401
Saturday, July 31, 1999 11:02 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was in the process of flying his airplane (which had just undergone an annual inspection) from Evanston, Wyoming, to Durango, Colorado. While en route, an abnormally high temperature was registered on the cylinder head temperature gauge, and the engine began to run rough. The pilot made a precautionary landing on a State highway. The airplane struck several T-posts, denting the leading edge and tearing the bottom of the left wing in two places. A mechanic from a nearby airport made temporary repairs, and a ferry permit was obtained from FAA's Flight Standards District Office. Law enforcement officers would not permit the pilot to take off on the State highway, but would allow him to take off from an intersecting county road. The road was narrow, with powerlines alongside the road and crossing at irregular intervals. The pilot examined the roadway and determined he could depart safely. Traffic was halted in both directions. During the takeoff roll, the airplane's left wing struck a 4'x4' post supporting a speed limit sign.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation and his failure to maintain clearance from the signpost. A factor was the signpost.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1102
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MONTROSE
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81401
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MTJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 5759
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 7455
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 410
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1325
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 9:57AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9390V
NTSB Number DEN99LA133
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mooney
Aircraft Model M20F
Aircraft Series Identifier M20F
Aircraft Serial Number 700019
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 26 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 2100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM LELAND
Aircraft Owner Street Address 208 VIA PALERMO
Aircraft Owner City NEWPORT BEACH
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92263
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 585, 488 ELKWOOD LA.
Operator City BAYFIELD
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 81122
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DRO
Destination City DURANGO
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --