# Accident 19971115033009A: Mooney M20C, Sparta, TN, November 15, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 15, 1997, 16:30 local time
- Place: Sparta, TN
- Airport: Sparta-White County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9303° N, 85.4696° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9303&lon=-85.4696&mi=10
- Aircraft: N78952, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78952-2013-07-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20C (registry code 5870208, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 931 total, 25 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA033) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971115033009A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLEW INTO CLOUD FOG BANK. TRIED TURN BACK. LOST IT. DOVE INTO TREES. TRYING TO FOLLOW ROAD VFR THRU MOUNTAINS. (-23) CORRECTIVE ACTION: NONE FOR PILOT,^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^      ACCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS: AIRCRAFT WAS PURCHASED ON NOVEMBER 13, 1997.  AIRCRAFT HAD ANNUAL INSPECTION COMPLETED ON NOVEMBER 13, 1997.  WEATHER HAD DETERIORATED, PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE SHORT FLIGHTS TO AIRPORTS APPARENTLY WITHIN 50 MILE RANGE. PILOT TOOK OFF FROM CROSSVILLE, TN HAD TO RETURN BECAUSE OF SLEET.  WAITED 2 HOURS FOR WEATHER TO BREAK, TOOK OFF AGAIN SAW LOW CLOUDS, TURNED, AIRCRAFT HIT GROUND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA98LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA033), Nov 15, 1997: Mooney M20C (N78952), Sparta, TN, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: 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,…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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