Mooney M20C N6879U
7 June 1994 · West Columbia, South Carolina, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 7 June 1994 at about 05:35 local time, a Mooney M20C registered N6879U was involved in an accident near West Columbia, South Carolina, 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 05:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- West Columbia, South Carolina, United States
- Nearest airport
- Columbia Metropolitan (CAE)
- Coordinates
- 33.9902, -81.0809
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C
- Registration
- N6879U
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Swainsboro
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- ATL94FA116
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING CLIMBOUT BECAUSE OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS WERE LOW CEILINGS AND THE DARK NIGHT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED VIRGINIA LATE ON THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND ARRIVED IN SOUTH CAROLINA EARLY IN THE MORNING ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. AFTER REFUELING THE AIRPLANE WITH 10.1 GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL, THE PILOT SPOKE BRIEFLY WITH THE FLIGHT LINE PERSONNEL. DURING THAT BRIEF CONVERSATION THE PILOT NEVER MENTIONED AN AIRCRAFT PROBLEM. WITHIN THIRTY MINUTES OF LANDING THE PILOT HAD REQUESTED AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CLEARANCE, AND DEPARTED. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST AFTER THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD A 'PROB'. ATTEMPTS BY THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER TO ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT FAILED; RADAR CONTACT WAS NEVER ESTABLISHED. THE PILOT DID NOT EXPRESS WHAT TYPE PROBLEM HE WAS EXPERIENCING. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PILOT IMPAIRMENT OR INCAPACITATION. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL WEATHER OBSERVATION, INSTRUMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ATTEMPTED NIGHT FLIGHT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mooney M20C accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1994 | Mooney M20C | Wamsutter, Wyoming, United States | Howard, DON M. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1994 | Mooney M20C | MacOn, Missouri, United States | Full Moonies | No injuries | - |
| 21 Oct 1994 | Mooney M20C | Greeley, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jun 1994 | Mooney M20C | Leesburg, Virginia, United States | Kimbrough, Edward W. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1994 | Mooney M20C | Wallingford, Connecticut, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 10 Mar 1994 | Mooney M20C | Richland Center, Wisconsin, United States | Michael Geyer | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Feb 1994 | Helio HE391B | Saluda, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1994 | Piper PA-28-180 | St. Matthews, South Carolina, United States | JB Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 12 Mar 1994 | Piper PA-22-160 | Columbia, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Mar 1994 | Cessna 150L | N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 1994 | Cessna 188 | Latta, South Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1994 | Cessna 172K | Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |