Mooney M20C C-FRSK

Summary

On 16 March 2008 at about 14:34 local time, a Mooney M20C registered C-FRSK, operated by A. Roy Sanwalka, was involved in an accident near Atkins, Virginia, 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

16 March 2008 at 14:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Atkins, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

36.9331, -81.3817

Aircraft

Mooney M20C

Registration

C-FRSK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

A. Roy Sanwalka

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Charleston → Jacksonville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08FA139

2 people died.

The pilot's improper decision to take off in conditions conducive to icing, and his inability to maintain control of the airplane during an in-flight accumulation of structural ice.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After receiving a weather briefing that indicated a probability of en route icing conditions, the pilot, who was not instrument rated, filed an instrument flight rules flight plan through those conditions. The airplane was not approved for known icing conditions. While en route, the pilot advised air traffic control that the airplane had encountered icing, and requested a lower altitude. The controller approved a descent to the lowest altitude permitted by terrain clearance requirements. After contacting the next en route controller, the pilot again noted icing, and again requested a lower altitude; however, the controller could not approve a further descent due to the same terrain clearance requirements, but authorized a turn. Subsequently, based upon information from another pilot, the controller advised the pilot that he could climb to try to exit the top of the clouds, which the pilot accepted. The airplane began a climb, but the pilot then radioed, "we're going down." When requested by the controller, the pilot confirmed that the airplane was again accumulating ice. Postcrash examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies, and its trajectory through the trees was consistent with a stall/spin.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.