# NTSB BFO90FA057: Mooney M20E, N3260F, Charleston, WV, June 15, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 15, 1990, 08:27 local (12:27 UTC)
- Place: Charleston, WV
- Coordinates: 38.369335, -81.560066 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3693&lon=-81.5601&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11550
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90FA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11550/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90FA057

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IFR PROCEDURES, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDE PATH ON THE ILS APPROACH, AND HIS FAILURE TO INITIATE A MISSED APPROACH AT THE DECISION HEIGHT.  THE ADVERSE WEATHER WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - decision height - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PLT & COPLT WERE ON A 15-DAY TRIP, WHICH INCLUDED STOPS AT ALL STATE CAPITOLS IN THE CONTERMINOUS UNITED STATES. THE ACDNT OCCURRED ON THE NEXT TO LAST LEG OF THE TRIP. THE PLT WAS ON A VFR FLT, WHEN HE CONTACTED APCH CTL & REQUESTED LANDING INSTRUCTIONS. HE WAS ADVISED THAT IMC CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE DESTN ARPT. HE THEN OBTAINED VECTORS FOR AN ILS RWY 23 APCH. AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING CLNC TO LAND, THERE WAS NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS FM THE ACFT. A WITNESS THAT LIVED NEAR THE FLT PATH TO RWY 23 HEARD THE ACFT & SAW IT FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS WHEN IT APPEARED IN A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS. SOON THEREAFTER, HE HEARD THE ACFT HIT TREES & CRASH ABOUT 1 MI FM THE APCH END OF THE ARPT AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 1018 FT. WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER A 600 FT AREA. THE WITNESS RPRTD THE ACFT WAS VERY LOW BEFORE IT CRASHED, BUT THE ENG SOUNDED NORMAL. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND DURING AN INVESTIGATION. DECISION HEIGHT FOR THE APCH WAS 1181 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3260F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3260F-1990-12-12), registration cancelled 1990-12-12, S/N 670053 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M20E
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Thunderbird Flying Club, Inc.
- Registered owner: Thunderbird Flying Club, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 1990
- Departed: OSU, COLUMBUS, OH
- Airport: CRW, Charleston/Yeager, runway 23, 6,300 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,400 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRW, 1 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 19900615020499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900615020499A), Jun 15, 1990: Mooney M20E, Charleston, WV, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Crashed into trees on ILS approach. Failed to note minimum altitude. Low clouds an fog in area.

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.