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NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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January 20, 1987 · Mooney M20C · N3496X

Highgate, VT

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 20, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Highgate, VT
Aircraft
Mooney M20C
Tail Number
N3496X
Operator
Abbas Ahmadirmabadi
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC87FA063

ACCORDING TO THE SURVIVING PAX, A SNOWSHOWER WAS ENCTRD, SO THE PLT REVERSED COURSE & DIVERTED TO ANOTHER ARPT. DRG A NGT APCH TO LND, THE PAX NOTED A WHITE LIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. (A VASI LIGHT SYS WAS INSTALLED FOR THAT RWY.) THE PLT ABORTED THE LNDG, BUT DRG A GO-AROUND, THE ACFT STRUCK TREETOPS APRX 1500' BEYOND THE DEP END OF THE RWY & CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUCTION WAS EVIDENT. THE LNDG GEAR & GEAR HANDLE WERE FND IN THE DOWN PSN, THE FLAPS WERE IN A RETRACTED PSN & THE ENG CTLS WERE FND AT FULL POWER SETTINGS. ONLY 3.4 HRS OF THE PLT'S FLT TIME WAS RPRTD IN HI PERFORMANCE OR COMPLEX ACFT & NO ENDORSEMENT TO OPERATE SUCH ACFT WAS FND.

Full Narrative

ACCORDING TO THE SURVIVING PAX, A SNOWSHOWER WAS ENCTRD, SO THE PLT REVERSED COURSE & DIVERTED TO ANOTHER ARPT. DRG A NGT APCH TO LND, THE PAX NOTED A WHITE LIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. (A VASI LIGHT SYS WAS INSTALLED FOR THAT RWY.) THE PLT ABORTED THE LNDG, BUT DRG A GO-AROUND, THE ACFT STRUCK TREETOPS APRX 1500' BEYOND THE DEP END OF THE RWY & CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUCTION WAS EVIDENT. THE LNDG GEAR & GEAR HANDLE WERE FND IN THE DOWN PSN, THE FLAPS WERE IN A RETRACTED PSN & THE ENG CTLS WERE FND AT FULL POWER SETTINGS. ONLY 3.4 HRS OF THE PLT'S FLT TIME WAS RPRTD IN HI PERFORMANCE OR COMPLEX ACFT & NO ENDORSEMENT TO OPERATE SUCH ACFT WAS FND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:55 EST
Nearest AirportFranklin County (5nm N)
Runway1
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20C
Tail NumberN3496X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAbbas Ahmadirmabadi
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 26 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point19 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

External Links

Appendix: Source Data