What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 24 November 2024, a Mooney M20J was operated from hartford county airport to albany new york for the purpose of transporting 3 rescue dogs. The aircraft was flying under visual flight rules (VFR) at an approximate altitude of 5,000 feet MSL. The pilot informed air traffic control that he was experiencing moderate to heavy turbulence. After descending to 4,300 feet, the pilot reported the turbulence as light to moderate. The aircraft then descended further to 3,300 feet in an area of mountainous terrain, shortly before losing signal. The aircraft collided with the terrain, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot, who was the only person on board, was fatally injured, along with a dog.
As the FAA filed it
ON 24 NOVEMBER 2024, A MOONEY M20J WAS OPERATED FROM HARTFORD COUNTY AIRPORT TO ALBANY NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANSPORTING 3 RESCUE DOGS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) AT AN APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF 5,000 FEET MSL. THE PILOT INFORMED AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING MODERATE TO HEAVY TURBULENCE. AFTER DESCENDING TO 4,300 FEET, THE PILOT REPORTED THE TURBULENCE AS LIGHT TO MODERATE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DESCENDED FURTHER TO 3,300 FEET IN AN AREA OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, SHORTLY BEFORE LOSING SIGNAL. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT, WHO WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON BOARD, WAS FATALLY INJURED, ALONG WITH A DOG.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.