Mooney M20F accident near Brandon, Mississippi, September 5, 2004
On September 5, 2004 at about 7:32 pm local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N9708M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brandon, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of all studs and/or thru-bolts of the No. 3 cylinder for undetermined reasons causing separation of the cylinder. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2004 · about 7:32 pm local time
- Place
- Brandon, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9708M · no longer on the register · serial 670268
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and noted the oil capacity was full (8 quarts). Approximately 2 hours into the flight while flying at 10,500 feet, the engine began running rough. He advised air traffic control (ATC), and attempts to correct the rough running engine were unsuccessful. The flight continued and shortly afterwards, the engine developed a severe roughness and he then heard a bang with smoke entering the cockpit. He declared "mayday" with ATC, and requested vectors to the nearest airport. Unable to land there, he executed a forced landing on a nearby highway and collided with a vehicle during the landing roll-out. The No. 3 cylinder was found separated from the crankcase, and all cylinder studs and/or thru-bolts exhibited various forms of fatigue. The No. 3 cylinder connecting rod bolts which were fractured exhibited evidence of either bending or shear overstress. The No. 2 cylinder connecting rod bearing was found welded to the crankpin, and a piece of aluminum lined bearing material was found inside the oil passage of the No. 2 cylinder crankpin journal. Fretting was noted at the No. 3 cylinder contact area, and also at the split-line surface of the right crankcase half at the main bearing locations. The fretting was the greatest at the cylinder contact area between studs Nos. 1 and 2, and also at the split line surface on the right crankcase half at the No. 3 main bearing location. The engine had accumulated 1,390 hours since major overhaul and approximately 873 hours since the No. 3 cylinder was removed and reinstalled.
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
- Flight time: 319 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 265 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,020.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2004; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPDK Atlanta GA at 5:10 pm
- Destination: KDTN Shreveport LA
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from KJAN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.