19990312002179A

The wreckage was discovered burning on the top of a mountain after a fire was reported in the area, the pilot/sole occupant suffered fatal injuries. Other circumstances are unknown. (.19)on March 12, 1999, about 1230 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20K, N231HU, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain near Counts, Virginia. The certificated private pilot wasfatally injured, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed a the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the business flight from lake norman airport(14A), mooresville, north carolina, to clermont county airport (I69), batavia, Ohio. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR part 91. A witness stated that he had intended to but the accident airplane from the pilot's corporation. The pilot flew the airplane to mooresville the day before the accident for a pre-purchase inspection. The inspection was done n the morning of the accident, with numerous discrepancies found. They included the fuel flow being too high, the right magneto inoperative, low pressure on two engine cylinders, two exhaust manifolds leaking, various oil leaks, an inaccurate fuel gauge, a spongy left brake, and the left forward en gine mount rusted. During the course of the inspection, the witness determined that the airplane was not what he wanted, and the pilot became "quite upset" that the sale wasn't completed. The pilot was later seen getting into the airplane, which departed the airport shortly before noon. There was no evidence that the pilot communicated with any air traffic control facilities during the flight. The wreckage was found on the western side of a wooded, 2,200-foot mountain. It was on a 30-degree slope, about 1.700 feet above sea level. The crash site was located at 37 degrees, 07.12 minutes north, 82 degrees, 17.87 minutes west. All major airplane components were found at the accident scene. Most components, as well as the surrounding vegetation, suffered fire damage. Several trees near the site exhibited broken branches, and trunk scoring in a descending path angle of 55 degrees. The swath was in a generally northeast direction. There was a crater at the end of the swath,about 8 feet in diameter, which varied in depth to a maximum of 4 feet on the upslope side of the mountain. At the bottom of the crater was a large, irregular sized boulder, which was fractured into several pieces. There was also an uprooted tree trunk, about 6 inches in diameter, which was split, and partially cut at a 45 degree angle. The two propeller blades were found separated from the propeller hub. One exhibited severe s-bending, with outboard 6 inches missing. The other exhibited leading edge pitting, a mid-span dent along the chordwise axis, and chordwise scratching. The engine crankshaft was fractrued. Continutiy and compression could not be established due to severe impact and fire damage. The cockpit and all instruments were destroyed. The weather, 20 minutes after the accident and at an airport about 55 nautical miles to the east, was clear, with a visbility of 15 statute miles. The 25 year-old pilot had been issued a second class medical certificate, with a restriction to wear corrective lenses, on February 2, 1998. His private pilot certificate was issued on November 21, 1998, and he was listed as the president of the corporation that owned the accident airplane. (.4) on March 12, 1999, at 1215 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20K, N231HU, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain near Counts, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally inju red, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the business flight from lake norman airpark (14A), mooresville, north carolina, to clermont county airport (I69), batavia, Ohio. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR part 91. A witness stated that he had intended to buy the accident airplane from the pilot, who was listed as the president of the corporation that owned it. The day before the accident, the pilot flew the airplane to mooresville for a pre-purchase inspection. During the inspection, which occurred on the morning of the accident, the witness determined that the airplane was not acceptable, and cancelled the sale. He observed the pilot become "quite upset," and heard him state that he "needed the money." The pilot was later seen getting into the airplane, which departed the airport about 1150. There was no evidence that the pilot communicated with any air traffic control facilities during the flight. The accident occurred during the hours of daylight, and the airplane impacted terrain at 37 degrees, 07.12 minutes north, 82 degrees, 17.88 minutes west. (-23)pilot departed lake norman airpark (14A), moorseville, north carolina at approx. 1130 local, enroute to clermont county airport (I69) batavia, Ohio. Dur to unknown circumstances, the aircraft impacted the ground at approx. a 60 degree nose down angle at a very high rate of speed resulting in total decimation of the aircraft. The accident site was discovered, in a remote wooded area at an elevation of approx. 1600', by Virginia forestry personnel extinguishing the forest fire sparked by the aircraft accident.