Torrington Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Torrington, Wyoming 82240
Saturday, July 14, 1990 14:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT TOOK OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB. HE SAID THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE PRODUCING ONLY PARTIAL POWER. HE TURNED BACK TO THE RUNWAY, BUT LOST ALTITUDE, DRAGGED ONE WING ON THE TERRAIN, AND LANDED ACROSS THE 75 FOOT WIDE RUNWAY. THE PLANE CROSSED THE RUNWAY, A TAXIWAY, SKIDDED UP A HILL AND CAME TO REST. THE FUSELAGE, BOTH WINGS, THE NOSE GEAR AND LEFT MAIN GEAR WERE DAMAGED. A POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BROKEN EXHAUST VALVE IN THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A FAILED EXHAUST VALVE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/14/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City TORRINGTON
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82240
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TORRINGTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TOR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 4206
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1372
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 14 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1731
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42683
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6456Q
NTSB Number DEN90LA164
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
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 670535
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5740
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name B & L AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT. 2 BOX 4590 REGIONAL ARPT
Operator City RAPID CITY
Operator State SD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 57701
Operator Code BGLA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 TOR
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RAP
Destination City RAPID CITY
Destination State SD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 1
Runway Length 5700
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --