Mooney M20J N643RJ

Summary

On 28 March 2017 at about 11:15 local time, a Mooney M20J registered N643RJ was involved in an accident near Aberdeen, Mississippi, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 March 2017 at 11:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Aberdeen, Mississippi, United States

Nearest airport

Monroe County (M40)

Coordinates

33.8653, -88.4989

Aircraft

Mooney M20J

Registration

N643RJ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1980

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Aberdeen → Madison

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ERA17FA139

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain after takeoff in dark night conditions for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot of the single-engine airplane was departing on a cross-country flight in dark night, visual meteorological conditions over sparsely lighted terrain. GPS and radar information showed that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane turned about 5° left during its initial climb over the runway before beginning a climbing right turn consistent with a direct heading toward the destination. The airplane continued the right turn past the on-course heading and entered a descent, which continued until impact with terrain about 2,500 ft from the departure end of the runway. The wreckage path orientation was consistent with a steep, powered descent and impact with terrain in a right descending turn. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airframe or engine. It is unlikely that the pilot's high blood pressure or its treatment contributed to the accident and there is no evidence to suggest that he was suddenly impaired or incapacitated by his moderate coronary artery disease. Overall, it is unlikely that the pilot's medical conditions or use of medications contributed to the accident. The dark night conditions and sparsely-lighted terrain in the vicinity of the airport combined with the pilot's high cockpit workload during takeoff into instrument meteorological conditions, may have been conducive to the development of spatial disorientation; however, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether disorientation may have contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.