# NTSB CHI83LA018: Mooney M20E, N9192V, Sault Ste Marie, MI, October 17, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 16, 1982, 20:35 local (Oct 17, 1982, 00:35 UTC)
- Place: Sault Ste Marie, MI
- Coordinates: 46.479496, -84.359268 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4795&lon=-84.3593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 16, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72557
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72557/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA018

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ON A VMC FLIGHT PLAINWELL, MI. TO SAULT ST MARIE, MI. PRIOR TO AND DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT OBTAINED WEATHER BRIEFINGS ON CONDITIONS RELATIVE TO HIS INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. A WITNESS NEAR THE CRASH SITE STATED THE AIRCRAFT PASSED OVER HER HOUSE TWO TIMES BEFORE SHE HEARD A LOUD THUMP. THE WEATHER AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOW OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 1/4 MILE AND SNOW.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9192V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 690041
- Airframe hours: 1224
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Wayne Leroy Switzer
- Registered owner: Wayne Leroy Switzer
- Departed: C, PLAINWELL, MI
- Destination: C, SAULT STE MARIE, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,515 total, 65 in this make and model, 1,295 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 320° at 15 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 91 °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 19821016056269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821016056269A), Oct 16, 1982: Mooney M20K, Sault Ste Marie, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Departed VFR with marginal weather forecasted en route. Flew into trees in near zero visibility and blowing snow.

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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