Mooney M20K N231MC
6 January 1991 · Gallipolis, Ohio, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 6 January 1991 at about 18:30 local time, a Mooney M20K registered N231MC, operated by William R. Whitney, was involved in an accident near Gallipolis, Ohio, 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 18:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Gallipolis, Ohio, United States
- Nearest airport
- Gallia-Meigs Regional (GAS)
- Coordinates
- 38.8197, -82.1892
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K
- Registration
- N231MC
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- William R. Whitney
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Columbia → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC91FA058
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT ALLOWED THE SPEED OF THE AIRPLANE TO GET TOO SLOW, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTANT STALL AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO ALLOW RECOVERY. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S TREPIDATION ABOUT A SUCCESSFUL LANDING BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT INFORMED PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND THAT HE HAD THE AIRPORT INSIGHT, BUT WAS STILL INBOUND ON THE NDB APPROACH. THE PILOT EXPRESSED A CONCERN ABOUT THE WEATHER AND THAT HE WAS TOO HIGH AND COULD NOT MAKE THE LANDING. A PILOT FLYING IN THE AREA AT THE TIME SAID THE CEILINGS WERE RAGGED AND AT TIMES THE VISIBILITY WAS LOW. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO BE MIDIFIELD AT A LOW ALTITUDE, TURNING LEFT, LOSING ALTITUDE AND SPEED. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN 'STALLED AND SPUN' INTO THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED NO DISCREPANCIES WITH EITHER THE AIRFRAME OR THE ENGINE.
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 | - |
| 31 Aug 1991 | Mooney M20K | Burlington, Wisconsin, United States | Gillespie, Richard W. | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Jan 1991 | Mooney M20K | Fayette, Missouri, United States | Jerry L. Ellis | Fatal | 1 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1991 | Learjet LR25B-XR | Columbus, Ohio, United States | New Creations, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172 | Millville, Ohio, United States | GO Leasing Company | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1991 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Pomeroy, Ohio, United States | Charles K. Gard | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1991 | Cessna A185F | Vernon, Ohio, United States | George H. Siegel | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Jul 1991 | Cessna 182 | Xenia, Ohio, United States | Skydive Green County | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft B90 | Waynesville, Ohio, United States | West Tennessee Skydivers | Serious injuries | - |