Mooney M20R accident near Summersville, WV
On December 7, 2006, a Mooney M20R (airplane) was involved in an accident near Summersville, WV. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 7, 2006
- Place
- Summersville, WV
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20R · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.249°N, 80.976°W
- NTSB ID
- 20061220X01818
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 7, 2006, about 1305 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20R, N9165T, was destroyed during a forced landing near Summersville, West Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot was fatally injured. The flight was operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan between Branch County Memorial Airport (OEB), Coldwater, Michigan, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Raleigh, North Carolina. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to excerpts from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control accident package, the airplane departed Coldwater at 1130, with a clearance to 10,000 feet. At 1132, the pilot contacted Cleveland Center, and was cleared to 13,000 feet. At 1154, the pilot contacted Indianapolis Center with the airplane level at 13,000 feet. At 1253, the pilot reported "engine issues" and that he needed the next "v-f-r" airport. The controller asked for clarification, and the pilot stated that he had "engine problems." When asked if he was declaring an emergency, the pilot replied, "not at this point, but I want you to help me…find a v-f-r airport." The controller acknowledged the request, and the pilot added, "I want to avoid ice." When the controller asked him if he was in icing conditions, the pilot reported he was at 13,000 feet, "just on top" of the clouds, and was not in icing. At 1254, the pilot stated that he needed "lower right away." The controller then asked the pilot if he needed to climb, and the pilot replied that he needed to descend "right a
Probable cause
The airplane's encounter with in-flight icing, which resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's improper weather evaluation, the in-flight icing conditions, the reduced visibility from a snow squall during the forced landing, and terrain unsuitable for a forced landing.
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Browse: West 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.
