Mooney M20F accident near Wheeling, Illinois, May 20, 1997
On May 20, 1997 at about 11:18 pm local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N6950V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wheeling, Illinois. 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
binding of the number four exhaust valve, which resulted in a partial power loss. A factor was the ravine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1997 · about 11:18 pm local time
- Place
- Wheeling, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N6950V · no longer on the register · serial 22-1323
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On the first flight after maintenance, the pilot reported that on the initial climb, 'the engine stopped producing power and began behaving erratically.' The pilot declared an emergency to the controlling ATC personnel, and turned back to Palwaukee Municipal Airport. The pilot reported that the engine, 'was backfiring and sounded like only one cylinder was hitting.' The pilot selected a field to execute a forced landing, circled it twice, and landed on an easterly heading. The pilot reported that the plane, after touch down, 'skidded and rolled for about 250 yards before coming to rest on the bank of a small creek.' The pilot evacuated the airplane and waited for assistance. Examination of the number four cylinder revealed excessive black carbon build-up on the cylinder head and exhaust valve seat.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 355 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 305 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,739 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 14, 1997; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWK at 11:15 pm
- Destination: MSN Madison WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from PWK, 12 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.