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NTSB Report
April 15, 1989 · Mooney M20F · N9252V
Lynch, KY
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 15, 1989
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Lynch, KY
Aircraft
Mooney M20F
Tail Number
N9252V
Operator
Charles W Foley
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL89FA131
AT 1507 CDT ON 4/15/89, THE ACFT DEPD AURORA, IL, ON A FLT TO FLORENCE, SC. WHEN IT DID NOT ARRIVE, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. FIVE DAYS LATER, IT WAS FOUND BY SURVEYORS ON LYNCH MTN AT ABOUT THE 3500' LEVEL. IMPACT OCCURRED ON A WOODED HILLSIDE, PARALLEL TO A RIDGELINE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT WAS IN LEVEL FLT WHEN IT CRASHED. WITNESSES IN THE AREA RPRTD THEY HAD HEARD THE SOUND OF AN ACFT ENG AT ABOUT 1900 EDT ON 4/15/89. FOG, ACCOMPANIED BY DRIZZLE, COVERED THE TOP OF THE MTN AT THAT TIME. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLT HAD OBTAINED 4 WX BRIEFINGS BEFORE THE FLT. EACH TIME, HE WAS ADZD THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED.
NTSB Probable Cause
CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, TERRAIN, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.
Full Narrative
AT 1507 CDT ON 4/15/89, THE ACFT DEPD AURORA, IL, ON A FLT TO FLORENCE, SC. WHEN IT DID NOT ARRIVE, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. FIVE DAYS LATER, IT WAS FOUND BY SURVEYORS ON LYNCH MTN AT ABOUT THE 3500' LEVEL. IMPACT OCCURRED ON A WOODED HILLSIDE, PARALLEL TO A RIDGELINE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT WAS IN LEVEL FLT WHEN IT CRASHED. WITNESSES IN THE AREA RPRTD THEY HAD HEARD THE SOUND OF AN ACFT ENG AT ABOUT 1900 EDT ON 4/15/89. FOG, ACCOMPANIED BY DRIZZLE, COVERED THE TOP OF THE MTN AT THAT TIME. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLT HAD OBTAINED 4 WX BRIEFINGS BEFORE THE FLT. EACH TIME, HE WAS ADZD THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftMooney M20F
Tail NumberN9252V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCharles W Foley
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 50 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 3 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 48
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time22:50
Weather SourceWFAC