# NTSB ATL88LA228: Mooney M20F, N6864V, Burkesville, KY, August 6, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1988, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Burkesville, KY
- Coordinates: 36.790531, -85.360328 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7905&lon=-85.3603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7797
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA228
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7797/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA228

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED HEAVY RAIN AND EXTREME TURBULENCE WHILE FLYING OVER A BLACK CLOUD AT 8,500 FT. HE STATED THAT IT WAS AS IF AN 'INVISIBLE TORNADO HAD REACHED OUT' AND GRABBED THE AIRPLANE; EXCESSIVE CLIMB & DESCENT RATES WERE EXPERIENCED, AND CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A SPIN AND DESCENDED SEVERAL THOUSAND FT INTO TREES. THE WINGS WERE TORN OFF ON IMPACT WITH THE TREES, AND THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE TERRAIN INVERTED. WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT PRE-FLIGHT PREPARATION, THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD NOT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING FROM FLT SVC, BUT NOTED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF A COLD FRONT IN THE AREA. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD AN INSTRUMENT RATING. ACCORDING TO FAA RECORDS, HE WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6864V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6864V-2013-05-02), registration cancelled 2013-05-02, S/N 22-1257, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-1257
- Airframe hours: 1660
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Edward J. Geyman
- Registered owner: Knowles, Thomas C
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 9A7, JONESBORO, GA
- Destination: MADISON, IN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total, 30 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19880806030999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880806030999A), Aug 6, 1988: Mooney M20F, Burkesville, KY, Destroyed. Tried to fly VFR through thunderstorm. Stalled and spun in. No weather briefing.

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.

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