FTW85FA343

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20J · Bethel, OK · November 26, 1984

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
November 26, 1984, 15:13 local (21:13 UTC)
Place
Bethel, OK
Injuries
1 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N4081HMooney M20J
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19841126066669A
Case key
21570

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal
Hazardous weather advisory - disregardedPilot in commandCause
Underconfidence in personal abilityPilot in commandCause
Preflight planning/preparation - improperPilot in commandCause
Flight into known adverse weather - performedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandCause
Weather condition - fogFactor
Weather condition - icing conditionsFactor
Weather condition - rainFactor
Weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms)Factor
Loss of control - in flightManeuvering
Remedial action - attemptedPilot in command
Proper altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total instrument timePilot in command
Descent - uncontrolledPilot in commandCause
Spatial disorientationPilot in commandCause
Pull-up - attemptedPilot in command
Airspeed(vs) - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall - uncontrolledPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - mountainous/hillyFactor
Terrain condition - rough/unevenFactor
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

Despite a wx brief discouraging VFR flt the non-instrument rated plt departed at about 1330 CST. His stated dest was ft. worth, TX which is due north. After takeoff in VMC the acft flew NE toward an unknown dest. A wx study indicated conditions along the track of flt included fog, rain, and thunderstorms. The last portion of the flt was in the vicinity of thunderstorms, heavy rain, severe or greater turbulence, severe icing above 11,500 ft and low level wind shear. Radar plots recorded the acft ground track and showed very erratic airspeed and course during aprx the last 25 min of flt. 4 near 180 deg turns were made, alt was unknown. Impact occurred on a westerly heading in rocky, hilly terrain gear and flaps up. The descent angle was aprx vertical in an aprx 20 deg nose down left wing leading attitude. The ELT did not activate; air search was unsuccessful and terminated on 12-3-84. The wreckage was found by a helicopter on 9-11-85 in the commercial pine tree forest. Invest revealed no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.

Aircraft

Registration
N4081H
Reported as
Mooney M20J
Category
Airplane
Serial number
24-1056
Airframe hours
1,026
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-A3B6DL, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Sweetbriar Nursing Home
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 26, 1984 · 53 hours before
Departed
TO4 · Georgetown, TX

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
36
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,777 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 1,700 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
135° at 8 knots
Temperature
57 °F, dew point 57 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.