Mooney M20M accident near Evansville, Indiana, November 27, 2001
On November 27, 2001 at about 9:13 pm local time, a Mooney M20M, registered N7775L, was destroyed in an accident near Evansville, Indiana (Evansville Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fatigue failure of the turbocharger exhaust band clamp and aircraft control not possible by the pilot due to the fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 2001 · about 9:13 pm local time
- Place
- Evansville, Indiana · Evansville Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20M · all M20Ms on the register
- Registration
- N7775L · no longer on the register · serial 27-0011
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The personal flight impacted terrain in a residential neighborhood about one mile north of the departure airport while executing an emergency return to the airport. The airplane impacted a wooded area in a 20-degree nose down trajectory and came to rest about 142 feet from the initial impact point. The pilot reported smoke in the cockpit 55 seconds after takeoff which was then followed by a report of a fire 32 seconds later. A witness reported seeing gray and black smoke trailing from the right side of the exhaust area. Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the turbocharger exhaust V-band clamp was separated through the band. Metallurgical examination indicated that the separation was consistent with a fatigue fracture. According to maintenance records, the V-band clamp was installed in 1990 in response to a service letter (SL). An airworthiness directive (AD) was then issued in 1991 requiring the replacement of the V-band clamp with one which was of the same part number as called for by the SL. The V-band clamp found in the wreckage of the accident airplane was of the same part number required by the SL and AD. The airplane received an annual inspection 25 days prior to the accident at which time the V-band clamp would have accumulated a total time in service of 1,402 hours. Engine overhauls and exhaust system related maintenance has necessitated the clamp's repeated removal and installation since its original installation. According to the airplane emergency procedures for smoke/fire, the master switch and fuel selector valve are to be selected to the off positions. Radio transmissions by the flight continued after the initial report of smoke. Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the fuel selector valve was selected to the right fuel tank.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,605 hours in all; 1,382 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 2, 2001
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AF1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EVV Evansville IN at 9:12 pm
- Destination: IND Indianapolis ID
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 8,021 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from EVV, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.