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NTSB Report
September 11, 1982 · Mooney M20E · N5518Q
Houghton, MI
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 11, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Houghton, MI
Aircraft
Mooney M20E
Tail Number
N5518Q
Operator
Kyoko Simmons
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI82FA350
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES WHILE MAKING AN ILS APPROACH TO HOUGHTON COUNTY MEMORIAL ARPT, HANCOCK, MI. THE WEATHER WAS IMC AND AN IFR FLT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE HELD IN THE ACFT BY SEAT BELTS AND WERE FATALLY INJURED IN THE CRASH AND POST CRASH FIRE. THE FLT ORIGINATED AT BAY CITY, MI ABOUT 2 HRS & 15 MIN BEFORE THE CRASH. INBOUND TO HOUGHTON THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER UPDATE WITH VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE. WHEN ASKED IF HE WANTED TO TRY AN APPROACH HE SAID "I'LL TAKE A LOOK". AND "IF WE DON'T MAKE IT WE'LL NEED SOME PLACE TO GO". NO ALTERNATE HAD BEEN FILED ON HIS FLT PLAN. NO MORE TRANSMISSIONS WERE MADE AND 6 MINUTES AFTER THE PILOTS LAST STATEMENT A LOCAL RESIDENT CALLED HOUGHTON FSS AND REPORTED HEARING AN ACFT CRASH.
Full Narrative
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES WHILE MAKING AN ILS APPROACH TO HOUGHTON COUNTY MEMORIAL ARPT, HANCOCK, MI. THE WEATHER WAS IMC AND AN IFR FLT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE HELD IN THE ACFT BY SEAT BELTS AND WERE FATALLY INJURED IN THE CRASH AND POST CRASH FIRE. THE FLT ORIGINATED AT BAY CITY, MI ABOUT 2 HRS & 15 MIN BEFORE THE CRASH. INBOUND TO HOUGHTON THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER UPDATE WITH VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE. WHEN ASKED IF HE WANTED TO TRY AN APPROACH HE SAID "I'LL TAKE A LOOK". AND "IF WE DON'T MAKE IT WE'LL NEED SOME PLACE TO GO". NO ALTERNATE HAD BEEN FILED ON HIS FLT PLAN. NO MORE TRANSMISSIONS WERE MADE AND 6 MINUTES AFTER THE PILOTS LAST STATEMENT A LOCAL RESIDENT CALLED HOUGHTON FSS AND REPORTED HEARING AN ACFT CRASH.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:34 EDT
Nearest AirportHoughton County Memorial (0nm N)
Runway31
Runway Length6500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd
Aircraft
AircraftMooney M20E
Tail NumberN5518Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorKyoko Simmons
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 49 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDusk
Wind90° @ 7 kt
CeilingOvercast 100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point15 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time20:40