Mooney M20B accident near Bethpage, TN
On October 17, 1993, a Mooney M20B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Bethpage, TN. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 17, 1993
- Place
- Bethpage, TN
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.500°N, 86.300°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X13513
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 17, 1993, at about 1130 central daylight time, a Mooney M20B, N74724, collided with terrain during maneuvering flight near Bethpage, Tennessee. The private pilot and his wife were fatally injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight from Indianapolis, Indiana to Rome, Georgia. The flight departed Indianapolis at about 0920 central daylight time. Family members of the pilot reported that the pilot performed a preflight inspection of the aircraft on the morning of October 17. The pilot's son was not certain, but believed that his father obtained a weather briefing, or filed a flight plan prior to departure. Rome, Georgia was the planned refueling stop for the flight to the pilot's home in Florida. The pilot stated to his son prior to the flight that he had to "fly around a storm" during the planned flight. A search of Flight Service Station records did not indicate any evidence that a weather briefing took place, and no flight plan was filed for the flight. A witness observed the aircraft fly over his house at low altitude shortly prior to the accident. He was outside in his yard at the time. About 30 seconds later, he again heard the aircraft flying over his property, and he noted that the engine noise was very loud. He heard the engine running until he heard the crash. Another witness, who lived adjacent to the accident site, reported that the aircraft passed over his house in a southeasterly direction, then returned a short tim
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE A PREFLIGHT BRIEFING SERVICE, AND THE LOW CEILINGS AND FOG AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.
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Browse: Tennessee · Mooney aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
