Mooney M20E N9360M

Summary

On 2 August 1996 at about 08:19 local time, a Mooney M20E registered N9360M was involved in an accident near Purdy, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 August 1996 at 08:19

Classification

Accident

Location

Purdy, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.3604, -122.5994

Aircraft

Mooney M20E

Registration

N9360M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Friday Harbor → Medford

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

Unk

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

SEA96FA175

2 people died.

The noninstrument-rated pilot's continuation of VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions which led to pilot spatial disorientation and loss of control of the aircraft. Factors were: pilot self-induced pressure, night conditions, low ceilings, and the pilot's lack of total instrument time.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noninstrument-rated pilot wanted to return home to manage a bowling tournament. Since marginal visual flight rules (VFR) conditions were forecast for the following day, the pilot decided to leave that evening. After takeoff, flight service informed the pilot that weather conditions were deteriorating on the flight's planned route, but the pilot replied he would continue toward his destination. The aircraft subsequently passed east of Bremerton (which was reporting a 600-foot overcast ceiling) at 2,900 to 3,000 feet. Two minutes later, the aircraft entered a descending left turn to the east. In this turn, the aircraft's speed increased above never-exceed speed and its descent rate increased to 2,400 feet per minute before it disappeared from radar. Four seconds later, the pilot called air traffic control (ATC) for help, but no further transmissions were received. The aircraft crashed 1/2 mile northeast of the last radar position. Witnesses reported that the aircraft impacted in about a 45-degree descent angle, that the engine sounded normal, and that there was low cloud cover in the area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.