# Accident 20040503018239A: Mooney M20M, Raleigh-Durham, NC, May 3, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 2004, 15:10 local time
- Place: Raleigh-Durham, NC
- Airport: Raleigh-Durham International
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Missed Approach IFR
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.7714° N, 78.8144° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7714&lon=-78.8144&mi=10
- Aircraft: N91514, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91514-2005-06-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20M (registry code 5870222, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20M
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04FA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04FA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040503018239A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 ATL04FA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04FA107), May 3, 2004: Mooney M20M (N91514), Cary, NC, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot experienced spatial disorientation, which resulted in a loss of control and the subsequent collision with trees. Factors were low ceilings and fog.

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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