Mooney M20R N574DJ

Summary

On 20 September 2002 at about 22:37 local time, a Mooney M20R registered N574DJ, operated by Carol G. Peddy, was involved in an accident near Burnsville, North Carolina, 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

20 September 2002 at 22:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Burnsville, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Mountain Air Country Club (2NC0)

Coordinates

35.8722, -82.3447

Aircraft

Mooney M20R

Registration

N574DJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Carol G. Peddy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Asheville → Burnsville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL02FA171

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during final approach, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and uncontrolled descent into trees and terrain. Factors were wind gusts and terrain-induced turbulence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was on an approach to the 2875-foot mountaintop runway in gusting winds, the airplane was observed to bank sharply left and drop down the mountainside just prior to reaching the runway 14 threshold. The airplane then collided with trees and terrain and burst into flames. Several witnesses outside on the decks of a country club and a restaurant adjacent to the mountaintop runway observed the airplane make a low pass down runway 14, then enter the traffic pattern. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane on a low, flat final approach to runway 14 with its gear and flaps down. One witness stated the airplane appeared as if it was going to land directly on the numbers, but just prior to reaching the end of the runway, it suddenly banked left and dropped down the mountainside out of view. The published airport information card stated, "Runway 32 has an uphill incline of 46 feet. Runway 14, thus, downhill 46 feet. Recommended approach unless there is significant tailwind is runway 32." The card also stated, "High banks on right hand side of approach ends of both runway 14 and 32, within 20 feet of edge of pavement .... Mountainous terrain in area. Caution: Mountain turbulence, approach downdrafts, density altitude." Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure. The pilot had reported turbulence prior to conducting the approach.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.