As rare as these types of incidents have proven to be, one must still include their personal airworthiness in the final decision to commit to flight, to avoid the kind of tragedies that may have caused this loss of a brother aviator. While there is yet no solid info to suggest that this accident had a medical cause, we can't help but caution everyone to make sure that their personal condition is as flight-ready as their aircraft's.

Flyer beware... 

NTSB Identification: FTW04FA055
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, January 03, 2004 in Amarillo, TX
Aircraft: Mooney M20C, registration: N6834N
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

NTSB's Preliminary Report

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On January 3, 2004, approximately 1445 central standard time, a Mooney M20C single-engine airplane, N6934N, was destroyed following collision with terrain near Amarillo, Texas. The certificated private pilot/co-owner was fatally injured. No flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that originated at Tradewind Airport (TDW), near Amarillo, Texas, about 1441, destined for Lamesa Municipal Airport (2F5), near Lamesa, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

A witness, who was located at an airport about 10 miles south of the accident site, initially observed the airplane as it headed south at an approximate altitude of 1,200 to 1,500 feet above ground level. He then saw the airplane make a descending, 180-degree right turn. The airplane continued to descend (approximately 150-200 feet per minute) until it disappeared from his view. The witness added that the engine was "loud" and operating at full power during the turn. The landing gear were up, and there were no "apparent difficulties" with the airplane.

Additionally, several other witnesses observed the airplane descending in a steep bank prior to impacting the ground.

A preliminary review of the air traffic control (ATC) voice communications revealed the pilot made initial contact with Amarillo Approach Control at 1441, and requested visual flight rules (VFR) flight following. Approximately four minutes later, he reported that he was having "chest pains" and wanted to return to the "ground." There were no further communications with the pilot.

At 1449, a pilot that was flying in the local area, reported to ATC the airplane had crashed about 1-mile southwest of Tradewind Airport.

The airplane wreckage was examined at the accident site on January 04, 2004. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene. The airplane came to rest in a plowed field, at an elevation of approximately 3,260 feet mean sea level (msl), on a magnetic heading of 093 degrees. The accident site was located at approximately 035 degrees, 10 minutes north latitude, and 101 degrees, 50 minutes west longitude.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was issued on April 3, 2002.

Examination of the pilot's logbook revealed he had a total of 1,142.2 hours, of which, 799 hours were in make and model.

The weather observation facility at Tradewind Airport, at 1353, reported the wind from 060 degrees at 07 knots, 10 statute mile visibility, clear skies, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.74 inches Mercury. The temperature was 52 degrees Fahrenheit, and the dew point was 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

** Report created 1/7/2004 Record 14 **
IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 6934N Make/Model: MO20 Description: MO-20
 Date: 01/03/2004 Time: 2045
 Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
 Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
 City: AMARILLO State: TX Country: US

DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING TO LAND AFTER PILOT REPORTING CHEST PAINS, AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED, AMARILLO, TX

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
 # Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: 2103Z 04004KT 10SM CLR 11/M07 A2974
OTHER DATA
 Activity: Pleasure Phase: Unknown Operation: General Aviation
 Departed: AMARILLO, TX Dep Date: 01/03/2004 Dep. Time: 2042
 Destination: LAMESA, TX Flt Plan: UNK Wx Briefing: U
 Last Radio Cont: 2 MILES SW OF AMARILLO,TX
 Last Clearance: SQK 1573 CONTACT DEPARTURE ON 119.5
 FAA FSDO: LUBBOCK, TX (SW13) Entry date: 01/05/2004

FMI: www.faa.gov/avr/aai/iirform.htm