# NTSB NYC91LA100: Mooney M20J, N5810C, Blue Ash, OH, April 4, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 4, 1991, 09:46 local (14:46 UTC)
- Place: Blue Ash, OH
- Coordinates: 39.240097, -84.349235 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2401&lon=-84.3492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36898
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36898/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA100

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED DURING A LANDING APPROACH, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND SPIN AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO RECOVER.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE BY THE PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE MOONEY M20J, N5810C, WAS DELIVERING HIS AIRPLANE TO THE BLUE ASH AIRPORT, OHIO FOR MINOR REPAIRS, WHEN HE CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA.  HE HAD CALLED THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING INFORMATION MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.  AN FAA INSPECTOR SAID, 'I WOULD ESTIMATE THE ALTITUDE TO BE BETWEEN 200 AND 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND...THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THEN WENT INTO A SPIN...I THEN SAW THE AIRCRAFT HAD CRASHED.'  THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CLOSE BASE LEG FOR A VFR LANDING PATTERN.  THE PILOT'S FLIGHT LOG SHOWED 3 FLIGHTS IN 1989, 2 FLIGHTS IN 1990, AND 1 FLIGHT IN 1991, ALL IN THE MOONEY M20J.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5810C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5810C-1991-09-04), registration cancelled 1991-09-04, S/N 241558 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1558
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hahne Enterprises
- Registered owner: Hahne Enterprises
- Departed: I69, BATAVIA, OH
- Destination: I77, BLUE ASH, OH
- Airport: I77, Blue Ash, runway 24, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 500 total, 7 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910404008949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910404008949A), Apr 4, 1991: Mooney M20J, Cincinnati, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Became too slow and nose high on landing approach. Stalled and spun into a wooded area. Lacked recent experience.

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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