Mooney M-20-20 accident near Hilton Head, SC
On November 22, 2001, a Mooney M-20-20 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Hilton Head, SC. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 22, 2001
- Place
- Hilton Head, SC
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20-20 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.117°N, 80.400°W
- NTSB ID
- 20011130X02324
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 22, 2001, about 1250, eastern standard time, a Mooney M-20-20, N5217B, registered to and operated by a private individual, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, near Hilton Head, South Carolina, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from Wilson, North Carolina, to St. Petersburg, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed. The aircraft was destroyed, and the private-rated pilot and one passenger are missing and are presumed to have received fatal injuries. The flight departed from Wilson, North Carolina, the same day, about 1000. According to information obtained from the FAA, the pilot had requested and was receiving VFR flight following. The FAA transcript of communications showed that at 1025, shortly after departing from Wilson Industrial Air Center, Wilson, North Carolina, the pilot had initiated radio communications contact with Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (AFB) Approach Control, and at 1029, the airplane was identified by the radar controller. At 1032, the pilot informed the controller that he was at an altitude of 6,500 feet, enroute to St. Petersburg, Florida, and at 1047, communications control was passed from Seymour Johnson Approach Control, to Fayetteville Approach Control. At 1110, communications control was passed from Fayetteville Approach Control, to Myrtle Beach Approach Control, and at 1148, the pilot was instructed to contact Charleston Approach Control. At 1216, the pilot requested a higher altitude, and was cleared to climb, with the Charleston Ap
Probable cause
The pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control, an uncontrolled descent, and an impact with the water.
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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.
