# NTSB NYC91FA058: Mooney M20K, N231MC, Gallipolis, OH, January 6, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 6, 1991, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Gallipolis, OH
- Coordinates: 38.819694, -82.189155 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8197&lon=-82.1892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36777
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91FA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36777/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91FA058

## Probable cause

THE PILOT ALLOWED THE SPEED OF THE AIRPLANE TO GET TOO SLOW, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTANT STALL AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO ALLOW RECOVERY.  A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S TREPIDATION ABOUT A SUCCESSFUL LANDING BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - planned approach - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT INFORMED PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND THAT HE HAD THE AIRPORT INSIGHT, BUT WAS STILL INBOUND ON THE NDB APPROACH.  THE PILOT EXPRESSED A CONCERN ABOUT THE WEATHER AND THAT HE WAS TOO HIGH AND COULD NOT MAKE THE LANDING.  A PILOT FLYING IN THE AREA AT THE TIME SAID THE CEILINGS WERE RAGGED AND AT TIMES THE VISIBILITY WAS LOW.  THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO BE MIDIFIELD AT A LOW ALTITUDE, TURNING LEFT, LOSING ALTITUDE AND SPEED. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN 'STALLED AND SPUN' INTO THE GROUND.  EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED NO DISCREPANCIES WITH EITHER THE AIRFRAME OR THE ENGINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231MC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231MC-1994-01-19), registration cancelled 1994-01-19, S/N 250029 (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: M20K25-0029
- Airframe hours: 783
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TIO-360-GB1 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William R. Whitney
- Registered owner: William R. Whitney
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 1990, 99 hours before
- Departed: CAE, COLUMBIA, SC
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: GAS, Gallia-Meigs Regional, runway 5, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 388 total, 200 in this make and model, 109 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 7.5 in the last 30 days, 3.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HTS, 30 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 19910106000249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910106000249A), Jan 6, 1991: Mooney M20K, Gallipolis,, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Circling after adf approach in and out of clouds. Stalled and spun in. Was in position to land prior but high.

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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