Mooney M20C N78952

Summary

On 15 November 1997 at about 22:30 local time, a Mooney M20C registered N78952, operated by John W. McDonald, was involved in an accident near Sparta, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 November 1997 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sparta, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Crossville Memorial (CSV)

Coordinates

35.9303, -85.4696

Aircraft

Mooney M20C

Registration

N78952

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

John W. McDonald

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Crossville → Pine Bluff

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA98LA033

1 person died.

The pilot's inadequate preflight and inflight decision and his inadvertent VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing factors are self induced pressure, mountainous terrain, and low clouds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was briefed earlier in the day that VFR flight was not recommended due in part to mountain obscurement and also due to the freezing level. The flight departed then remained in the traffic pattern and landed due to rain. The flight remained on the ground about 2 hours and while waiting, the pilot was advised by the airport manager how to fly out of the mountains by following a road westbound while flying at 2,300 feet (500-600 feet agl). According to the passenger, the flight departed using that instruction and after being airborne about 10 minutes, the flight entered a fog bank or cloud. The pilot then began banking to the left and during the turn, the passenger noted that the altimeter indicated 2,100 feet. While descending the airplane collided with a tree then the ground. Examination of the airplane by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed no evidence of flight control preimpact failure or malfunction. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. The pilot was not instrument rated but had accumulated about 43 hours simulated instrument time. According to his flight instructor, the pilot had a tendency to lose altitude during turns while wearing a vision restricting hood which simulated instrument conditions. The instructor also stated that the accident pilot would lose concentration and would be easily overloaded during simulated instrument flight. The passenger stated that both were tired, and the pilot wanted to get home and off the mountain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.