VFR into IMC · NTSB CEN15FA051
MOONEY M20C — Pagosa Springs, CO
| Date | November 15, 2014 |
| Location | Pagosa Springs, CO |
| Aircraft | MOONEY M20C |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Dusk · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute-climb to cruise Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 55 |
| Pilot total time | 227 hrs · Low time |
| Time in type | 16 hrs |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Snow-Effect on operation
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Below VFR minima-Effect on operation
What happened
The noninstrument-rated pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. There was no record that the pilot received a weather briefing from any official source before the flight. However, before departure, the pilot telephoned the fixed-based operator (FBO) at the destination airport to reserve a rental car. The FBO manager advised the pilot not to attempt the flight due to inclement weather in the area; the conditions included heavy snow and poor visibility. The pilot stated he was "a professional pilot" and that he would be flying into the airport that day.
The FBO manager reported that, as the airplane was approaching the airport, he received a "scratchy unintelligible transmission" over the Unicom frequency. A few minutes later, he heard another transmission from the same source and the word "Mooney." Shortly thereafter, the FBO heard a clear transmission from the pilot indicating that he was 10 miles south of the airport. He then advised the pilot that the weather conditions were "100 [ft] overcast and a quarter-mile visibility in snow." The FBO manager reported that, shortly later, he went outside and heard an airplane approaching and then circling to the south and that he estimated that the airplane was "probably below 1,000 feet" above ground level. Shortly thereafter, the pilot called the Unicom frequency and asked if the runway lights were at their highest intensity setting. The FBO manager confirmed that they were and asked the pilot what his intentions were. The pilot replied, "I need to get out of the weather." No further communications were received from the pilot.
Air traffic control radar showed that the airplane was southeast of the airport at 9,100 ft mean sea level at the last radar point, and the wreckage was located in mountainous terrain. An examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact anomalies. The pilot's improper decision to fly to the destination airport and into known meteorological conditions likely resulted in his controlled flight into mountainous terrain.