Healdsburg Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Healdsburg, California 95448
Thursday, May 21, 2009 16:55 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to departure, the pilot performed an engine run-up and noted that the performance appeared to be normal. During the takeoff ground roll, the pilot reported that the airplane seemed sluggish. Shortly after the airplane lifted off the runway surface, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The airplane began to buffet and the pilot lowered the nose to prevent a stall. The airplane was losing altitude and he maneuvered it for an off airport landing. After clearing power lines, he made the forced landing in a vineyard adjacent to the airport. During the post accident engine inspection no mechanical anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power during the takeoff initial climb for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1655
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Healdsburg
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95448
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 383909N
Event Location Longitude 1225355W
Event Location Airport Healdsburg Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID O31
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 278
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 155
Weather Observation Facility ID STS
Elevation of weather observation facility 128
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27629
NTSB Notification Source FAA AWP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 18 2010 4:22PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4718H
NTSB Number WPR09LA254
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20J
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24-0820
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Douglas Bowman
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Santa Rosa
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95401
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Douglas Bowman
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Santa Rosa
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95401
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 O31
Departure City Healdsburg
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1650
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code STS
Destination City Santa Rosa
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 18 2010 4:22PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 2707
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --