Mooney M20K accident near Emporia, KS
On October 24, 1997, a Mooney M20K (airplane) was involved in an accident near Emporia, KS. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 24, 1997
- Place
- Emporia, KS
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.410°N, 96.191°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08958
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 23, 1997, at 2017 central daylight time (cdt), a Mooney M20K, N305RJ, operated by a private pilot, was destroyed when while maneuvering, the airplane impacted the terrain. A post-crash fire ensued. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. An IFR flight plan was on file. The pilot and two passengers on board the airplane were fatally injured. The flight originated at Farmington, New Mexico, at 1601 mountain daylight time (mdt), and was en route to Emporia, Kansas. The pilot telephoned the Las Vegas, Nevada, Flight Service Station (FSS) at 0744 pacific daylight time (pdt), and requested a briefing for a flight from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Farmington, New Mexico, and then continuing on to Emporia, Kansas. The pilot stated that he would be leaving at noon and requested a "general synopsis." The pilot received an outlook briefing. At 1048 pdt, the pilot called the Reno, Nevada FSS, and requested to file an IFR flight plan and receive a weather briefing. The pilot filed two flight plans and received a weather briefing. The pilot departed Las Vegas, Nevada, at 1158 pdt. At 1500 mdt, the pilot called Albuquerque, New Mexico FSS by telephone and received an updated weather briefing for an IFR flight from Farmington, New Mexico, to Emporia, Kansas. At 1554 mdt, the pilot contacted Farmington, New Mexico, Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) requesting "taxi and clearance to Emporia." Farmington ATCT cleared the airplane for taxi. At 1600 mdt, on reaching the run-up
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain an altitude above the minimum descent altitude for the approach. Factors contributing to this accident were the low ceiling, rain, and fog.
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Browse: Kansas · 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.
