Mooney M20R accident near Vineyard Haven, MA
On November 13, 2002, a Mooney M20R (airplane) was involved in an accident near Vineyard Haven, MA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 13, 2002
- Place
- Vineyard Haven, MA
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20R · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.338°N, 70.639°W
- NTSB ID
- 20021126X05523
Official records · NYC03LA019
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- FAA Air Traffic Control Summary: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- FAA Air Traffice Control Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
On November 12, 2002, about 1953 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20R, N2165Y, was destroyed when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, about 5 miles south of the Martha's Vineyard Airport (MVY), Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot and a passenger were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Theodore Francis Green State Airport (PVD), Providence, Rhode Island. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot purchased the airplane in April 2002, and based it at MVY. According to a representative of the pilot's family, the pilot was returning from a trip to Florida to visit friends. The day before the accident, the pilot flew to Savannah, Georgia, and on the day of the accident, the pilot flew to PVD. While at PVD, the airplane was refueled with 50 gallons of aviation gasoline. The pilot contacted the Bridgeport Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) to obtain a standard and updated weather briefing for the flight, and then departed for MVY, about 1925. According to information received from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane was cleared for the VOR Runway 6 approach at 1947:39. Radar data revealed the airplane descended toward the airport, to an altitude of 200 feet, and then began a climbing right turn to an altitude of 700 feet, before radar contact was lost. The pilot did not report any problems to air traffic controllers. A pilot reported he landed at MVY about 15 minutes prior to the acci
Probable cause
The pilot's spatial disorientation during a missed approach, which resulted in a loss of control, and the airplane's subsequent impact with water. Factors included clouds, rain, and night lighting conditions.
More accidents in MA
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Browse: Massachusetts · 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.
