# NTSB NYC98LA021: Mooney M20K, N252MY, Ocean City, NJ, October 26, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 26, 1997, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Ocean City, NJ - Location: 39.2693° N, 74.6014° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ocean City, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2693&lon=-74.6014&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 15, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39495 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39495/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA021 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude. Factors in the accident were the rain and fog. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis During final approach, about 200 feet above ground level, the pilot experienced a loss of altitude. He added full power, but the aircraft struck a tree about 250 feet from the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported wind shear in the area. There was no evidence of pre-impact malfunction to the airplane. Winds reported at an airport 12 miles northeast were from 080 degrees at 7 knots. The airport manager reported that there was heavy rain and fog at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On October 26, 1997, about 1615 Eastern Standard Time, a Mooney M20K, N252MY, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during an instrument approach to the Ocean City Municipal Airport (26N), Ocean City, New Jersey. The certificated airline transport pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR), Bridgeport, Connecticut. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he departed BDR on an IFR flight plan to 26N. He was vectored to the VOR 6 approach to 26N by Atlantic City Approach Control. The pilot obtained current weather information from reporting stations at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey and Cape May County Airport (WWD), Wildwood, New Jersey. He stated the weather at both locations was: winds from 070 at 10-15 knots; visibility 4-5 miles, with mist; ceiling 1,200 feet overcast. The pilot executed the VOR 6 approach, and was able to see the runway while descending through approximately 1,200 feet, from a distance of approximately 3 miles. The pilot further stated "Approximately 200 feet [above the ground, I] experienced a sink I could not arrest. I added full power, but impacted the ground approximately 300 feet short of the runway...". According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector the airplane's right wing struck a tree about 250 feet from the approach end of Runway 6. The FAA Inspector further stated that there was no evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunction to the airplane. The airport manager reported that there was heavy rain with fog at the time of the accident. Atlantic City International Airport was located approximately 12 miles to the northeast. The weather reported there, at 1554, was: winds from 080 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 6 miles with light rain and mist; scattered clouds at 1,500 feet; ceiling 2,200 feet broken; 2,700 feet overcast; temperature and dewpoint 50 degrees Fahrenheit; altimeter 30.05. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N252MY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N252MY-1998-01-17), registration cancelled 1998-01-17, S/N 251097 (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: 25-1097 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-MB1 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jesse L Poole - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1997, 28 hours before - Departed: BDR, BRIDGEPORT, CT - Destination: 26N - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 26N, Ocean City Municipal, runway 6, 2,977 × 59 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 27,000 total, 45 in this make and model, 19,700 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 7 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ACY, 12 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 19971026030959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971026030959A), Oct 26, 1997: Ocean City, NJ, Substantial damage. Acft landed in a marsh under unk circ. Ocean City, NJ 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.