Mooney M20C accident near West Columbia, SC
On June 7, 1994, a Mooney M20C (airplane) was involved in an accident near West Columbia, SC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 7, 1994
- Place
- West Columbia, SC
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.990°N, 81.081°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01424
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On Tuesday June 7, 1994, at 0135 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N6879U, collided with trees during an instrument departure from the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, West Columbia, South Carolina. The business flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with a valid instrument flight clearance; instrument weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed, and the private pilot was fatally injured. The flight departed West Columbia, at 0133 hours. According to the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at Darly Airport in Kite, Georgia, the pilot departed Kite at 0715 hours on June 5, 1994. The departure was delayed due to low ceilings and reduced visibility. The FBO and close friend of the pilot, stated that the original departure was scheduled for 0600 hours. The FBO further stated that the pilot planned the business flight to Lakewood, New Jersey, and intended a return to Kite in time for a business meeting on Tuesday morning at 0800 hours in Douglas, Georgia. Itinerary information of the pilot's flight to New Jersey and the subsequent flight to Newport News, Virginia, was not recovered. At 1810, a man who identified himself as the pilot of N6879U, walked into the Newport News Flight Service Station, and stated that he planned an instrument flight from Newport News to West Columbia, South Carolina. The pilot stated that he had received a weather briefing earlier and needed an update of the current and forecasted thunderstorm activity along the intended route of flight. The pilot was given a standard weather briefing with emphasis on co
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING CLIMBOUT BECAUSE OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS WERE LOW CEILINGS AND THE DARK NIGHT.
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Browse: South Carolina · 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.
