Mooney M20R N1005P

Summary

On 21 March 2003 at about 00:45 local time, a Mooney M20R registered N1005P was involved in an accident near Leesburg, Virginia, 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.

Date

21 March 2003 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Leesburg, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO)

Coordinates

39.0967, -77.5589

Aircraft

Mooney M20R

Registration

N1005P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Youngstown → Leesburg

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

IAD03FA039

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while on final approach for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The instrument rated pilot flew the published instrument approach procedure and cancelled IFR services while on final approach. A review of radar data revealed that when the airplane was approximately 1 mile from the end of the runway, it began a left, 360-degree turn at an altitude of 1,600 feet msl, at a groundspeed of 98 knots. The turn was completed within a radius of approximately 0.2 nautical miles. Upon completion of the turn, the airplane was at an altitude of 1,000 feet msl, headed toward the airport. Twenty seconds later, the airplane began a left turn to the east, just before the data ended. The last radar target was at an altitude of 900 feet msl. Several witnesses observed the airplane, and described the weather as light drizzle, fog, and dark. A witness said he could easily identify the airplane's navigational lights, and saw the nose of the airplane straight up in the air, as it simultaneously rolled to the left, on to its back, as the nose dropped straight down toward the ground. The airplane continued to roll a full 360 degrees, then hit the ground nose first. The witness also described the maneuver as "very violent and not controlled." Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical deficiencies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.