Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K accident near Saarbrucken, De, October 27, 2016
On October 27, 2016 at about 9:50 am local time, a Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K, registered N400MW, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Saarbrucken. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2016 · about 9:50 am local time
- Place
- Saarbrucken, Germany · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K NO SERIES
- Registration
- N400MW · no longer on the register · serial 25-0669
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 27, 2016, about 0946 UTC, a Mooney M20T, N400MW, owned and operated by a private individual, impacted on the runway at the Saarbrucken-Ensheim Airport (EDDR), Saarbrucken, Germany. The pilot on board was fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The foreign, non-scheduled, personal cross-country flight had departed Pattonville Airport (EDTQ), Remseck, Batten-Wurttemburg, Germany, and was destined for EDDR.Approaching EDDR the airplane was put in a holding pattern east of the airport for 2 hours prior to flying an ILS approach to land. The tower cleared the airplane to land, but did not see the airplane due to the weather. At 0950 UTC, weather conditions at EDDR were wind 280 degrees at 3 knots, runway 27 visual range 22 meters, 0.1 mile visibility with fog, temperature 41 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 41 degrees F, and altimeter 30.57 inches. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Germany. Any further information regarding the investigation can be obtained from: The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation Bundesstelle fur Flugenfallensuchung (BFU) Herman-Blenk Strasse 16 38108 Braunschweig Germany Telephone: +49 5 31-35 48-0 Facsimile: +49 5 31-35 48-246 E-Mail: ops@bfu-web.de This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from, the BFU of Germany.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.