# Accident 20150304002679A: Mooney M20F, Norfolk, VA, March 4, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 4, 2015, 04:13 local time
- Place: Norfolk, VA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.9097° N, 76.1956° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9097&lon=-76.1956&mi=10
- Aircraft: N66BB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66BB-2018-06-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20F (registry code 5870214, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15FA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA144) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150304002679A

## Narrative

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

ATC LOST RADAR AND RADIO CONTROL WITH AIRCRAFT WHILE ON A 2-MILE FINAL TO RUNWAY 23. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ORIGINALLY FROM PALATKA, FL TO SFQ AND WAS DIVERTED DUE TO POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS. AT 1245Z THE A/C WAS LOCATED IN THE BOTANICAL GARDENS LOCATED NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND (3) FATALITIES.

REVIEW OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TAPES FOUND THAT THE PILOT  EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH INTO SUFFOLK AND ASKED FOR VECTORS TO LAND AT NORFOLK AIRPORT (ORF). AFTER THE FIRST UNSUCCESSFUL APPROACH, TOWER ISSUED A MISSED APPROACH. AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON SECOND APPROACH SHORTLY AFTER REPORTING HAVING THE FIELD IN SIGHT.

THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 2,300 FEET NORTHWEST OF THE ORF RUNWAY 23 THRESHOLD. AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES APPROXIMATELY 60 FT ABOVE THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST INVERTED BELOW THE FINAL IMPACT TREE.

## 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 ERA15FA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA144), Mar 4, 2015: Mooney M20F (N66BB), Norfolk, VA, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly execute the instrument approach procedure. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's improper preflight planning and his decision to conduct the flight in…

## Other reports on N66BB (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19950415012679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950415012679I), Apr 15, 1995: Mooney M20F (N66BB), Portmouth, VA, Minor damage. Struck a deer on touch and go. Diverted to orf for repairs.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.