Mooney M20J N5809J
1 July 1991 · Waynesboro, Virginia, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 1 July 1991 at about 16:30 local time, a Mooney M20J registered N5809J, operated by Perry E. Brunk, was involved in an accident near Waynesboro, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one 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 16:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Waynesboro, Virginia, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.0591, -78.8999
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J
- Registration
- N5809J
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Perry E. Brunk
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Wise → Harrisonburg
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO91FA061
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN OVERSTRESS OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING WAS VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC AND THUNDERSTORMS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE AT 11,500 FEET AND WAS RECEIVING TRAFFIC ADVISORIES FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, WHO ADVISED HIM OF HEAVY PRECIPITATION AHEAD. THE PILOT BEGAN A DESCENT ABOUT 14 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION. ATC ADVISED THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED. THE PILOT LATER REPORTED HE HAD ENCOUNTERED RAIN AND TURBULENCE AND THAT HE WAS NOT IN VMC. ATC LOST CONTACT WITH THE AIRPLANE SOON AFTERWARDS. WITNESSES REPORTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WHEN THEY SAW THE AIRPLANE DESCEND AND CRASH. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRPLANE HAD AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP; WRECKAGE WAS STREWN A DISTANCE OF ABOUT TWO MILES. THE EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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 | - |
| 31 Aug 1991 | Mooney M20J | Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States | Thomas P. Heeney | Serious 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 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1991 | Cessna 310D | Christiansburg, Virginia, United States | U.s. Air Salvage | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 May 1991 | Piper PA-22-150 | Danville, Virginia, United States | Eoanna K. Casey | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 May 1991 | Smith Ted Aerostar STP1 | Quinton, Virginia, United States | Walter K. Crawford, JR. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 1991 | Grumman AA-1C | Union Hall, Virginia, United States | Christopher P. Nelson | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 1991 | Cessna 150G | Stuart, Virginia, United States | C-150 Group Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172 | South Boston, Virginia, United States | Wings & Props Flying Club | Minor injuries | - |