Mooney M20M accident near White Cloud, Michigan, July 15, 2005
On July 15, 2005 at about 5:54 pm local time, a Mooney M20M, registered N355RZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near White Cloud, Michigan (White Cloud airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the mechanic's improper maintenance, the disconnected oil line, the oil leak from the disconnected line, and the unsuitable terrain the pilot encountered during the forced landing. Factors were the outside pressures on the maintenance personnel and the uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2005 · about 5:54 pm local time
- Place
- White Cloud, Michigan · White Cloud · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20M · all M20Ms on the register
- Registration
- N355RZ · registry record · serial 27-0235
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power. The pilot's accident report stated, "Climbing through 9,000 feet I noticed that my climb performance had been reduced substantially. I then noticed that I had a serious problem. The [oil] temp was then red-lined, the oil pressure low, and power drastically reduced. At that point I disconnected the autopilot and lowered the nose to avoid a stall and attempt to cool the engine. I contacted [Minneapolis] center and reported the problem. The controller asked if I was declaring an emergency, and I said yes, and requested vectors to the closest airport. At this point I could see oil coming down the left window. ... I had a scattered layer around 3-4,000 feet that I descended through. I got visual on the airport. At that point airspeed and altitude [were] minimal and the power reduced to almost nothing. ... I aimed the aircraft towards mid field and figured if I put the aircraft down without stalling or hitting trees I would walk away. ... I put the aircraft down on the uneven terrain at the south end of [the runway]." An examination of the wreckage revealed a disconnected oil line. The disconnected oil line went to the cylinder valve guides for cooling. The other end of the line was connected at the outlet of the oil cooler from where the oil is supplied to the valve guides. A representative of the fixed base operator stated that three cylinders were removed and replaced. During the engine's operational check, no oil leaks were noted. The technician that performed the work also inspected the work. The representative stated that oil would begin to flow from the disconnected line once the engine warmed up and the vernatherm opened. The representative stated that human factors were also involved, as there was pressure to get the work done as the owner requested. The representative stated that secondary inspectors will be used whenever possible and that the entire maintenance staff will be trained on human factors.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,870 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,494 as pilot in command; 788 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 745 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2005; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AF1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GRR Grand Rapids MI at 9:33 pm
- Destination: BRD Brainerd MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18, 2,917 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from RQB, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.