Mooney M20K N231NR
16 February 1992 · Wheeling, West Virginia, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 16 February 1992 at about 15:31 local time, a Mooney M20K registered N231NR, operated by David B. & Elisabeth Fraser, was involved in an accident near Wheeling, West Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:31
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Wheeling, West Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Wheeling-Ohio County (HLG)
- Coordinates
- 40.0705, -80.6892
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K
- Registration
- N231NR
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- David B. & Elisabeth Fraser
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Philadelphia → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC92FA061
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND HIS IMPROPER HANDLING OF THE AIRCRAFT WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR PROPER RECOVERY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AIRFRAME ICE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE AT CRUISE ALTITUDE, THE PILOT REPORTED '...WE'RE VERY LOW ON OIL PRESSURE AND THE CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE IS GETTING VERY HIGH.' THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO DIVERT TO WHEELING, WV., AND EXECUTE THE VOR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 21. WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE BREAK OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT APPROX 500 FT OVER THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THEN MAKE A RT BANKED TURN OF MORE THAN 60 DEGREES. THE AIRPLANE THEN ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND STRUCK THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. 'MODERATE' RIME ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED ALONG THE PILOT'S ROUTE OF FLIGHT AND APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH OF ICE WAS FOUND ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LEFT WING SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mooney M20K accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 6 Jun 1992 | Mooney M20K | Stanley, Idaho, United States | Horsley, George H. | No injuries | - |
| 29 Nov 1992 | Mooney M20K | Orange, Virginia, United States | Rouben Yedigarian | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1992 | Mooney M20K | Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, United States | Baldwin, Mark | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Oct 1991 | Mooney M20K | Knox, Indiana, United States | Northern Harvest Furniture, Inc | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Aug 1992 | Cessna 172H | New Cumberland, West Virginia, United States | John H. Galicic | No injuries | - |
| 4 Oct 1992 | Beechcraft 35 | New Manchester, West Virginia, United States | Mike Hansen | Fatal | 3 |
| 20 Oct 1992 | Beechcraft A36 | Middlebourne, West Virginia, United States | Robert J. Carleton | Fatal | 2 |
| 27 Mar 1992 | Mooney M20M | Youngs Bottom, West Virginia, United States | Cephas W. Jackson, JR., MD | Fatal | 2 |
| 20 Oct 1992 | Cessna 177 | Morgantown, West Virginia, United States | Fred Morgan | No injuries | - |
| 29 Oct 1992 | Cessna 172M | Mallory, West Virginia, United States | Norman A. Brown | No injuries | - |