- Date
- November 15, 1991, 23:00 local (Nov 16, 1991, 04:00 UTC)
- Place
- Painesville, OH
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9637MMooney M20C
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report May 27, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911115052039A
- Case key
- 37108
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to see and avoid the powerline tower structure while executing a visual approach to the airport. Factors related to the accident were the lack of proper radio equipment necessary to execute the instrument approach, restricted visibility and night conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The two pilots departed keene, NH, IFR and upon arrival at Painesville, OH, they received a clearance to execute the NDB b approach. One of the pilots cancelled the IFR flight plan and reported the airport in sight. The controller queried the pilot when he observed the airplane on radar 4 miles from the airport. One of the pilots indicated they were maneuvering to land on a different runway. The airplane struck a 150 foot tall powerline support tower approximately 140 feet above the ground. The visibility at the time of the accident was less than one mile in rain and fog. Post accident examination of the wreckage revealed the airplane was not equipped with an adf.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9637M
- Reported as
- Mooney M20C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 670108
- Airframe hours
- 4,762
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1D, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Smith, Harry E.
- Registered owner
- Smith, Harry E.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 1986 · 1,010 hours before
- Departed
- EEN · Keene, NH
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 2,896 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 260° at 16 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.