Pilot Debrief

MOONEY M20R near Dundee, NY — 2010-12-23

Final reportERA11FA095
Sign in to save
Date
2010-12-23
Location
Dundee, NY, USA
Airport
PEO
Aircraft
MOONEY M20R
Registration
N968SM
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to operate in known moderate-to-severe icing conditions, which resulted in a loss of control during approach.

NTSB narrative

Prior to departing on the night instrument meteorological conditions flight, the pilot obtained a weather briefing that included an airmen's meteorological information for moderate icing conditions below 12,000 feet and two pilot reports, one for light-to-moderate and one for moderate-to-severe icing conditions. The flight progressed toward the destination airport and the pilot was advised by an air traffic controller of pilot reports for moderate and severe icing conditions in the surrounding areas. The airplane intercepted the initial approach fix, turned onto the runway approach course, and began a normal descent through clouds without incident until it veered to the northeast and radar contact was lost. The airplane impacted the ground about 1 mile north-northwest of the last radar target and 8 miles south of the destination airport. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. Evidence of significant in-flight ice accumulation was observed on the base of a communications antenna mounted on the top of the fuselage and on the upper surface of the inboard two-thirds of the left horizontal stabilizer. At the time of the accident, freezing precipitation, which coated the ground with ice, was present in the vicinity of the accident site. The airplane was not equipped with deicing systems and was not approved for flight into known icing conditions.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the approach due to reported icing conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ATC audio
  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 24 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents24

Related mishaps