Mooney M20K accident near Counts, VA
On March 12, 1999, a Mooney M20K (airplane) was involved in an accident near Counts, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 12, 1999
- Place
- Counts, VA
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.980°N, 82.289°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001205X00376
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 12, 1999, at 1215 Eastern Standard Time, a Mooney M20K, N231HU, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain near Counts, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the business flight from Lake Norman Airpark (14A), Mooresville, North Carolina, to Clermont County Airport (I69), Batavia, Ohio. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A witness stated that he had intended to buy the accident airplane from the pilot, who was listed as the president of the corporation that owned it. The day before the accident, the pilot flew the airplane to Mooresville for a pre-purchase inspection. During the inspection, which occurred on the morning of the accident, the witness determined that the airplane was not acceptable, and cancelled the sale. He observed the pilot become "quite upset," and heard him state that he "needed the money." The pilot was later seen getting into the airplane, which departed the airport about 1150. There was no evidence that the pilot communicated with any air traffic control facilities during the flight. The accident occurred during the hours of daylight, and the airplane impacted terrain at 37 degrees, 07.12 minutes north, 82 degrees, 17.88 minutes west. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The 25 year-old pilot had been issued a second class medical certificate, with a restriction to wear corrective lenses, on February 2, 1998. His private pilot certificate was issued on November 21, 1998. His total flight time
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane.
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Browse: Virginia · 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.
