Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mclean, New York 13102
Friday, August 7, 1987 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN FOR ABOUT 1-1/2 HOURS WHEN THE PILOT BEGAN A DESCENT FROM 12000 FEET FOR AN APPROACH. HOWEVER AT 3500 FEET, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY WENT FROM NORMAL CRUISE TO IDLE. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A CORN FIELD AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE NO MALFUNCTION OR MECHANICAL FAILURE COULD BE FOUND. THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY RUN AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS TOO BUSY LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND TO NOTICE THE ENGINE CONTROL POSITIONS OR INDICATIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/7/1987
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MCLEAN
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13102
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 8
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
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) --
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2082
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 10 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35425
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:44PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3457X
NTSB Number NYC87LA219
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 M20C
Aircraft Series Identifier M20C
Aircraft Serial Number L-419-36A
Certified Max Gross Weight 2575
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 Jun 16 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2402
Airframe Hours 2438
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PETER G. LINDBLAD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3317 W. OAK HILL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City JAMESTOWN
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City RANGLEY
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City JAMESTOWN
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --