20040503018239A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Mooney M20M · Raleigh-Durham, NC · May 3, 2004

Date: May 3, 2004 · 15:10 local
Place: Raleigh-Durham, NC
Airport: Raleigh-Durham International
Phase of flight: Missed Approach IFR
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N91514
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL04FA107
Reported as: Mooney M20M
Reported engine: Lycoming TIO540*
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,500 total

N91514Registration cancelled Jun 28, 2005 · Mooney M20MS/N 27-0119 · Built 1991 Airframe modelMooney M20M Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Aircraft was on approach into Raleigh-Durham airport when the pilot became disoriented and failed to maintain heading and direction. The private pilot was instrument rated and attempted two approaches to runway 5L into rdu airport. On the first approach into rdu the pilot failed to maintain proper heading for the 5L localizer, ATC abandon the approach the gave radar vectors for a second approach into rdu. During the second approach the pilot failed to intercept the localizer to runway 5L and crossed over to runway 5R. At that point the controller attempted to give radar vectors to runway 5R unsuccessful. N91514 was instructed by ATC to abandon the approach, instruction were given to turn right and climb. At this point the pilot lost control of the aircraft and impacted the ground, both occupants were fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces with the ground.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ON APPROACH INTO RALEIGH-DURHAM AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN HEADING AND DIRECTION. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS INSTRUMENT RATED AND ATTEMPTED TWO APPROACHES TO RUNWAY 5L INTO RDU AIRPORT. ON THE FIRST APPROACH INTO RDU THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER HEADING FOR THE 5L LOCALIZER, ATC ABANDON THE APPROACH THE GAVE RADAR VECTORS FOR A SECOND APPROACH INTO RDU. DURING THE SECOND APPROACH THE PILOT FAILED TO INTERCEPT THE LOCALIZER TO RUNWAY 5L AND CROSSED OVER TO RUNWAY 5R. AT THAT POINT THE CONTROLLER ATTEMPTED TO GIVE RADAR VECTORS TO RUNWAY 5R UNSUCCESSFUL. N91514 WAS INSTRUCTED BY ATC TO ABANDON THE APPROACH, INSTRUCTION WERE GIVEN TO TURN RIGHT AND CLIMB. AT THIS POINT THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND, BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES WITH THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ATL04FA107Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCary, NCThe pilot experienced spatial disorientation, which resulted in a loss of control and the subsequent collision with trees. Factors were low ceilings and fog.May 3, 2004 · Substantial damage