# NTSB ATL89FA131: Mooney M20F, N9252V, Lynch, KY, April 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1989, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Lynch, KY
- Coordinates: 36.96099, -82.910583 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9610&lon=-82.9106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7888
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7888/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA131

## Probable cause

CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC).  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, TERRAIN, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - fog
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

AT 1507 CDT ON 4/15/89, THE ACFT DEPD AURORA, IL, ON A FLT TO FLORENCE, SC.  WHEN IT DID NOT ARRIVE, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED.  FIVE DAYS LATER, IT WAS FOUND BY SURVEYORS ON LYNCH MTN AT ABOUT THE 3500' LEVEL.  IMPACT OCCURRED ON A WOODED HILLSIDE, PARALLEL TO A RIDGELINE.  THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT WAS IN LEVEL FLT WHEN IT CRASHED. WITNESSES IN THE AREA RPRTD THEY HAD HEARD THE SOUND OF AN ACFT ENG AT ABOUT 1900 EDT ON 4/15/89.  FOG, ACCOMPANIED BY DRIZZLE, COVERED THE TOP OF THE MTN AT THAT TIME.  AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLT HAD OBTAINED 4 WX BRIEFINGS BEFORE THE FLT.  EACH TIME, HE WAS ADZD THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9252V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9252V-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N 690069, built 1969 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 690069
- Airframe hours: 1595
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Charles W. Foley
- Registered owner: Charles W Foley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 29, 1988
- Departed: ARR, AURORA, IL
- Destination: FLO, FLORENCE, SC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 219 total, 121 in this make and model, 155 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 3 knots
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TRI, 38 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 19890415009459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890415009459A), Apr 15, 1989: Mooney M20F, Lynch, KY, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into trees on a fog obscured mountainside. Was advised of en route IMC.

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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