Mooney 20J N7201E
15 January 1991 · Newcastle, Oklahoma, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 15 January 1991 at about 04:44 local time, a Mooney 20J registered N7201E, operated by James D. Woodward, was involved in an accident near Newcastle, Oklahoma, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 04:44
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Newcastle, Oklahoma, United States
- Nearest airport
- Will Rogers World (OKC)
- Coordinates
- 35.2409, -97.5901
- Aircraft
- Mooney 20J
- Registration
- N7201E
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- James D. Woodward
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Woodward → Oklahoma City
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- FTW91FA030
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS WERE SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, IMPROPER IFR PROCEDURES, AND THE DARK NIGHT WITH LOW CEILINGS AND RAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING A NIGHT BACK COURSE LOCALIZER APPROACH UNDER INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, THE INSTRUMENT-RATED PRIVATE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF HIS AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED INTO A MUDDY WHEAT FIELD. THE PILOT HAD REQUESTED THE APPROACH AFTER ATTEMPTING TO VISUALLY LAND AT THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS VECTORED TO FINAL AND FLEW THROUGH THE LOCALIZER. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE WAS ON THE CORRECT FREQUENCY. HE WAS OBSERVED TURNING AND FLYING AWAY FROM THE COURSE LINE JUST PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL. HE HAD STATED THAT HE WAS BELOW THE CLOUDS PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING THE INSTRUMENT APPROACH.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mooney 20 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Nov 1991 | Mooney 20F | Basye, Virginia, United States | LEO J Killen | No injuries | - |
| 29 Aug 1992 | Mooney 20F | Lacon, Illinois, United States | Chien, Bruce B. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Dec 1993 | Mooney 20E | Linden, New Jersey, United States | John Sanford | No injuries | - |
| 14 Aug 1987 | Mooney 20K | Crestwood, Illinois, United States | Kemas Corporation | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1995 | Mooney 20E | Burlington, Connecticut, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jan 1995 | Mooney 20J | St. Petersburg, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jul 1991 | Cessna 150G | Marietta, Oklahoma, United States | Eagle Industries, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 1991 | Beechcraft B19 | Poteau, Oklahoma, United States | Richard Waters | No injuries | - |
| 23 Aug 1991 | Cessna 150M | Haskell, Oklahoma, United States | Bryce D. Willis | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Sep 1991 | Cessna 150L | Collinsville, Oklahoma, United States | William H. Griffin | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-25 | Spiro, Oklahoma, United States | Double "S" Flying, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Jul 1991 | Grimm CAVALIER SA102.5 | McAlester, Oklahoma, United States | Grimm, Larry W. | Fatal | 2 |