# NTSB FTW93FA055: Mooney M20C, N6878N, Deridder, LA, December 25, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 25, 1992, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Deridder, LA
- Coordinates: 30.770187, -93.239448 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7702&lon=-93.2394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18583
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93FA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18583/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93FA055

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE IN IMC. A FACTOR WAS HIS LACK OF RECENT INSTRUMENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

## 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
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, missed approach (ifr)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE FLEW APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS CROSS COUNTRY IN IFR CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN OR CONTACTING ATC. THE BURNING WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A FIELD UNDER THE MISSED APPROACH FLIGHT PATH NEAR THE UNCONTROLLED DESTINATION AIRPORT.  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE.  THE WEATHER AT THE TIME WAS 500 FEET OVERCAST WITH RESTRICTED VISIBILITY AND RAIN.  NO EVIDENCE OF PRE IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND IN THE AIRFRAME, POWERPLANT OR AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.  AN INSTRUCTOR, WHO WAS A PART OWNER IN THE AIRPLANE AND HAD GIVEN THE PILOT HIS LAST BFR 30 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, STATED THAT THE PILOT WAS NOT CURRENT FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6878N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6878N-1993-01-28), registration cancelled 1993-01-28, S/N 680153 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 680153
- Airframe hours: 2850
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Fatheree, Thomas H.
- Registered owner: Fatheree, Thomas H.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 1992, 97 hours before
- Departed: 3R5, NEW BRAUNFELS, TX
- Destination: DRI
- Airport: DRI, Deridder

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 580 total, 200 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 20° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PLK, 16 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 19921225051799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921225051799A), Dec 25, 1992: Mooney M20C, De Ridder, LA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. High speed wing low impact. Pilot reported to have low IFR skill. No current biennial review. No flight plan.

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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