# NTSB ATL90FA128: Mooney M20J, N201SE, Andrews, NC, June 11, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 10, 1990, 22:45 local (Jun 11, 1990, 02:45 UTC)
- Place: Andrews, NC
- Coordinates: 35.189933, -83.819099 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1899&lon=-83.8191&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): 8135
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90FA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8135/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90FA128

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE OVER HIGH TERRAIN.   DARKNESS AND HIGH TERRAIN WERE RELATED FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, climb - to cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON A NIGHT FLT FROM ANDREWS, NC, TO AMERICUS, GA.  WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. ON 6/12/90, THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ON THE SE RIDGE OF A MOUNTAIN ABOUT 4 MI WNW OF THE DEPARTURE ARPT. IMPACT OCCURRED AT AN ELEV OF ABOUT 3100' AS THE ACFT WAS ON A WESTERLY HEADING.  INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH A TREE ABOUT 250' FROM WHERE THE MAIN WRECKAGE CAME TO REST.  NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N201SE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201SE-1990-12-13), registration cancelled 1990-12-13, S/N 240295 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-0295
- Airframe hours: 1148
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert Lee Pilcher Jr.
- Departed: 6A3, ANDREWS, NC
- Destination: AMERICUS, GA
- Airport: 6A3, Andrews/Murphy

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,064 total, 585 in this make and model, 970 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TYS, 45 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 19900610019849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900610019849A), Jun 10, 1990: Mooney M20J, Andrews, NC, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into side of mountain on climbout from airport. No ground lights.

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.