# NTSB ATL85FA252: Mooney M20C, N5844Q, Columbus, GA, August 17, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 17, 1985, 13:33 local (17:33 UTC)
- Place: Columbus, GA
- Location: 32.4610° N, 84.9877° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Columbus, GA, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4610&lon=-84.9877&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6634
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FA252
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6634/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FA252

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - ifr procedure - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ACFT DEPARTED AIRPORT AFTER ENROUTE STOP FOR FUELING.VFR CONDITIONS WITH BROKEN CLOUDS AT 2800 FEET AND TURBULENCE IN CLOUDS.ACFT WAS CLEARED TO 4500 AND PIC ASKED TO REPORT REACHING.DURING CLIMB PIC WAS ASKED HIS ALTITUDE.HIS RESPONSE WAS UNINTELLIGIBLE FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF RADAR CONTACT.A WITNESS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ADJACENT TO THE CRASH SITE WATCHED AN AIRPLANE SPIN OUT OF THE SKY AT ABOUT THE LOCATION OF THE CRASH SITE UNTIL IT DISAPPEARED BEHIND TREES.ACFT IMPACTED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5844Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5844Q-1989-03-15), registration cancelled 1989-03-15, S/N 3131 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3131
- Airframe hours: 1611
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-AD 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Paul L. Tappin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, February 9, 1985, 62 hours before
- Departed: CSG, COLUMBUS, GA
- Destination: BNA, NASHVILLE, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 286 total, 162 in this make and model, 234 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CSG, 7 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850817039459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850817039459A), Aug 17, 1985: Mooney M20C, Columbus, GA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. VFR pilot lost control in area of clouds and turbulance. Impacted ground nose first. Pilot had consumed alcohol.

## Other investigations on N5844Q (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 MIA72OKT70](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72OKT70), Feb 26, 1972: Mooney M20C (N5844Q), Porvenir Islnd, RP, substantial damage

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.

---
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.