Mooney M20K N5809A
15 January 1991 · Fayette, Missouri, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 15 January 1991 at about 11:00 local time, a Mooney M20K registered N5809A, operated by Jerry L. Ellis, was involved in an accident near Fayette, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 11:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Fayette, Missouri, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.1403, -92.6791
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K
- Registration
- N5809A
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Jerry L. Ellis
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Columbus → Olathe
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- CHI91LA071
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, AND FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING A BUSINESS FLIGHT. THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORTED THERE WAS FOG AND PRECIPITATION IN THE VICINITY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND WITH AN EN ROUTE FUEL STOP IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. THE INTENDED DESTINATION WAS OLATHE, KANSAS. THE PILOT WAS RECEIVING VFR INFLIGHT ADVISORIES FROM AN ARTCC. AT ONE POINT THE PILOT ADVISED THE CENTER THAT HE WAS GOING TO RETRACE STEPS TO GET BELOW THE CLOUDS. THE AIRPLANE WAS LAST OBSERVED ON RADAR AT 2600 FEET MSL APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES EAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT RECEIVED TWO WEATHER BRIEFINGS FOR THE FLIGHT. RECORDS SHOW THAT THE PILOT RECEIVED 3.5 HOURS OF DUAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTION IN THE 60 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. THIS INCLUDED 1.5 HOURS OF BASIC INSTRUMENT TRAINING. THE PILOT BOUGHT THE AIRPLANE ONE WEEK BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mooney M20K accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct 1991 | Mooney M20K | Knox, Indiana, United States | Northern Harvest Furniture, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jan 1991 | Mooney M20K | Gallipolis, Ohio, United States | William R. Whitney | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Aug 1991 | Mooney M20K | Burlington, Wisconsin, United States | Gillespie, Richard W. | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1991 | Mooney M20K | Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States | Ludovic J. Devocht | No injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 1992 | Mooney M20K | St. Augustine, Florida, United States | Garofalo, Joseph JR. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1992 | Mooney M20K | Weston, West Virginia, United States | T and S Rentals | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun 1991 | Gremminger KOLB TWINSTAR | St. Genevieve, Missouri, United States | Greg W. Gremminger | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Aug 1991 | Manville AVID FLYER | Mexico, Missouri, United States | George Manville | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 1991 | Schweizer G164B | Gideon, Missouri, United States | Wilkens Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 4 Apr 1991 | Akins STINGER | Blairstown, Missouri, United States | Richard Akins | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Apr 1991 | Huff PULSAR | Missouri City, Missouri, United States | Glenn E. Huff | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 1991 | Cessna 150L | Taylor, Missouri, United States | Haerr Field, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |