# NTSB NYC88LA088: Mooney M20, N5782E, Morristown, NJ, February 20, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 20, 1988, 00:30 local (05:30 UTC)
- Place: Morristown, NJ
- Location: 40.8340° N, 74.3804° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from MORRISTOWN MUNI (MMU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8340&lon=-74.3804&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36101
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36101/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA088

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - ifr procedure - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - physical impairment, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE MOONEY CRASHED WHILE ON A ILS APPROACH AT NIGHT. THE PLT HAD BEEN UNABLE TO GET INTO TWO OTHER AIRPORTS DUE TO WEATHER AND AIR TRAFFIC. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN SWAMPY AREA. THE PILOT HAD TOLD ATC THAT HE FELT UNEASY ABOUT HIS ENGINE; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT TOLD FAA PERS THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN FEELING WELL, BUT NO MENTION WAS MADE OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE. THE FAA SAID THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE DESCENT RATE WAS 5 DEGREES. THE DESCENT RATE ON THE ILS IS 3 DEGREES. THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND WITH SUFFICENT FORCE TO DISLODGE AND THROW THE ENG ABOUT 175 FT FORWARD OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5782E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5782E-2014-10-15), registration cancelled 2014-10-15, S/N 24-1515, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1515
- Airframe hours: 500
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Howard Balick
- Registered owner: Dr. William Miller
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 1988, 30 hours before
- Departed: 3N6, OLD BRIDGE, NJ
- Destination: MMU, MORRISTOWN, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MMU, Morristown, runway 23, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 500 total, 50 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: EWR, 12 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 19880220070109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880220070109A), Feb 20, 1988: Mooney M20J, Morristown, NJ, Destroyed. Poor weather planning caused divert to another airport. Lost control on ILS and crashed in swamp. Lacked IFR skills

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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