# NTSB NYC92FA061: Mooney M20K, N231NR, Wheeling, WV, February 16, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 16, 1992, 10:31 local (15:31 UTC)
- Place: Wheeling, WV
- Coordinates: 40.070457, -80.68917 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0705&lon=-80.6892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37053
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92FA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37053/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92FA061

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND HIS IMPROPER HANDLING OF THE AIRCRAFT WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR PROPER RECOVERY.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AIRFRAME ICE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command

## Analysis

WHILE AT CRUISE ALTITUDE, THE PILOT REPORTED '...WE'RE VERY LOW ON OIL PRESSURE AND THE CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE IS GETTING VERY HIGH.'  THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO DIVERT TO WHEELING, WV., AND EXECUTE THE VOR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 21. WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE BREAK OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT APPROX 500 FT OVER THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THEN MAKE A RT BANKED TURN OF MORE THAN 60 DEGREES.  THE AIRPLANE THEN ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND STRUCK THE GROUND.  POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.  'MODERATE' RIME ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED ALONG THE PILOT'S ROUTE OF FLIGHT AND APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH OF ICE WAS FOUND ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LEFT WING SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231NR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231NR-1992-06-22), registration cancelled 1992-06-22, S/N 250328 (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: 25-0328
- Airframe hours: 1277
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-GB1 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David B. & Elisabeth Fraser
- Registered owner: David B. & Elisabeth Fraser
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 19, 1991, 22 hours before
- Departed: N67, PHILADELPHIA, PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HLG, Wheeling-Ohio County, runway 21, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,898 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HLG, 1 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 19920216003079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920216003079A), Feb 16, 1992: Mooney M20K, Wheeling, WV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. High cyl temp. Low oil pressure. Diverted hlg. VOR approach. Broke out. Banked steeply. Stalled. Airframe iced up.

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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