Mooney M20J N296TH
31 August 1991 · Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 31 August 1991 at about 00:28 local time, a Mooney M20J registered N296TH, operated by Thomas P. Heeney, was involved in an accident near Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:28
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States
- Nearest airport
- Nantucket (ACK)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J
- Registration
- N296TH
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Thomas P. Heeney
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Doylestown → Martha's Vineyd
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- NYC91LA226
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S DESCENT BELOW THE ILS GLIDE PATH AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING A MISSED APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE PILOT WAS ADVISED THAT THE WEATHER WAS MARGINAL AT HIS DESTINATION AND ALTERNATE AIRPORTS. HE WAS UNABLE TO LAND AT HIS DESTINATION, SO HE DIVERTED TO ANOTHER AIRPORT WITH KNOWN LOW CEILING AND VISIBILITY. DURING THE APPROACH, HE OBSERVED A 'FULL SCALE DEFLECTION IN AZIMUTH AND A FLY UP INDICATION ON THE GLIDE SLOPE NEEDLE.' HE STARTED A MISSED APPROACH, BUT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A HILL AT THAT TIME. THE INSTRUMENT APPROACH WAS CHECKED BY THE FAA AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. OTHER PLILOTS MAKING THE APPROACH DID NOT REPORT ANY DIFFICULTIES. THE REPORTED WEATHER AT THE TIME WAS AT MINIMUMS FOR THAT APPROACH. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TIME OF 31 HOURS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mooney M20J accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Dec 1991 | Mooney M20J | Morris, Minnesota, United States | Charles Schmidt | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jan 1991 | Mooney M20J | Brookline, New Hampshire, United States | Daniel Webster College | Fatal | 2 |
| 4 Apr 1991 | Mooney M20J | Blue Ash, Ohio, United States | Hahne Enterprises | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 Jul 1991 | Mooney M20J | Waynesboro, Virginia, United States | Perry E. Brunk | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Jun 1991 | Mooney M20J | Rhinebeck, New York, United States | Bernard J. Walsh | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1992 | Mooney M20J | Austin, Texas, United States | Kissock, Darryl C. | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | Templeton, Massachusetts, United States | Charles O'donnell | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Hiller UH-12B | Westfield, Massachusetts, United States | James T. Kilbridge | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft C-23 | Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States | David J. Stoddard | No injuries | - |
| 12 Sep 1991 | Cessna 172M | Norwood, Massachusetts, United States | Executive Flyers Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 28 Sep 1991 | McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | East Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Continental Airlines Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Apr 1991 | Bell 47-G3B1 | Harwich, Massachusetts, United States | Firefly Leasing, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |