# NTSB NYC89FA032: Mooney M20K, N1170Z, Holden, MA, November 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 16, 1988, 18:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place: Holden, MA
- Location: 42.3518° N, 71.8634° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Holden, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3518&lon=-71.8634&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36258
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36258/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA032

## Probable cause

INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND CONTACT WITH TREES PRIOR TO REGAINING CONTROL AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN UNKNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOPILOT. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE LACK OF RECENT NIGHT EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, climb - to cruise
  - autopilot/flight director - undetermined (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,inspection - not performed
- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE ACFT MADE A NIGHT INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE WITH A MAXIMUM ASSIGNED ALTITUDE OF 4,000 FT. THE PLT FAILED TO FOLLOW HIS DEPARTURE INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING ROUTING. HE CLIMBED TO 4,600 FT AND WHEN QUERIED, SAID HE WAS HAVING AUTOPILOT PROBLEMS. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE ACFT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR. THE ACFT IMPACTED A LINE OF TREES AT A HIGH SPEED AND WAS EXTENSIVELY BROKEN UP. THE WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER 450 FT. THE AUTOPILOT PROBLEM WAS NOT IDENTIFIED DUE TO THE EXTENT OF IMPACT DAMAGE; HOWEVER, NO PROBLEM WAS NOTED WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE. THE PLT WAS CURRENT WITH INSTRUMENTS, BUT NOT FOR NIGHT FLIGHT. THE ACFT PITOT STATIC SYSTEM AND TRANSPONDER WERE BOTH OUT OF INSPECTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1170Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1170Z-2013-10-25), registration cancelled 2013-10-25, S/N 25-0704, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-0704
- Airframe hours: 1783
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-LB1 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jules L. Levine
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 1988
- Departed: ORH, WORCESTER, MA
- Destination: BDR, BRIDGEPORT, CT
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 623 total, 206 in this make and model, 467 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORH, 6 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 19881116050979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881116050979A), Nov 16, 1988: Mooney M20K, Holden, MA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Night IFR departure. Reported autopilot problem. Dive into trees. No anomalies. Current IFR.

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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