# NTSB CHI82FA350: Mooney M20E, N5518Q, Houghton, MI, September 11, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 10, 1982, 20:34 local (Sep 11, 1982, 00:34 UTC)
- Place: Houghton, MI
- Location: 47.1118° N, 88.5672° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Houghton, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1118&lon=-88.5672&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71083
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82FA350
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71083/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82FA350

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - not selected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES WHILE MAKING AN ILS APPROACH TO HOUGHTON COUNTY MEMORIAL ARPT, HANCOCK, MI. THE WEATHER WAS IMC AND AN IFR FLT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE HELD IN THE ACFT BY SEAT BELTS AND WERE FATALLY INJURED IN THE CRASH AND POST CRASH FIRE. THE FLT ORIGINATED AT BAY CITY, MI ABOUT 2 HRS & 15 MIN BEFORE THE CRASH. INBOUND TO HOUGHTON THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER UPDATE WITH VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE. WHEN ASKED IF HE WANTED TO TRY AN APPROACH HE SAID "I'LL TAKE A LOOK". AND "IF WE DON'T MAKE IT WE'LL NEED SOME PLACE TO GO". NO ALTERNATE HAD BEEN FILED ON HIS FLT PLAN. NO MORE TRANSMISSIONS WERE MADE AND 6 MINUTES AFTER THE PILOTS LAST STATEMENT A LOCAL RESIDENT CALLED HOUGHTON FSS AND REPORTED HEARING AN ACFT CRASH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5518Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5518Q-2013-10-23), registration cancelled 2013-10-23, S/N 612, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 612
- Airframe hours: 1428
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kyoko Simmons
- Registered owner: Kyoko Simmons
- Departed: BAY CITY, MI
- Destination: HOUGHTON, MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CMX, Houghton County Memorial, runway 31, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 90° at 7 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 151 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CMX

## 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 19820910070749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820910070749A), Sep 10, 1982: Mooney M20E, Houghton, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck trees after entering fog bank on final from a ILS aproach. Weather below minima. No alternate filed.

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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