Plane Crash Reports 2003

2003 Plane Crash Report Result

Title: MOONEY M20R, N1005P, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN

Report Date: 03/28

Plane Crash Problem: On March 20, 2003, about 1945 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20R, N1005P, was destroyed when it collided with terrain during an instrument approach to Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO), Leesburg, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport (YNG), Youngstown-Warren, Ohio, about 1820. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A preliminary review of air traffic control communications revealed that the pilot was instructed to proceed direct to STILL intersection, and intercept the localizer course for the LOC RWY 17 approach. The pilot acknowledged, and also reported that he had the current weather information at the airport. The published inbound course for the LOC RWY 17 approach was 171 degrees magnetic, and the minimum descent altitude was 720 feet above mean sea level (msl). The crossing altitude at STILL intersection was 3,000 feet msl, and at WARDE intersection (the final approach fix), it was 1,800 feet msl. The distance between STILL and WARDE intersection was 6.2 nautical miles. The distance between WARDE and the missed approach point, which was located at the end of runway 17, was 3.9 nautical miles. The airport elevation was 389 feet msl. At 1937, when the airplane was about 6 nautical miles from STILL intersection, the approach controller cleared the pilot for the approach, and instructed him to cross STILL intersection at or above 3,000 feet. The pilot acknowledged. About 3 minutes later, the approach controller advised the pilot twice that he was about 1 mile east of the localizer course. The pilot acknowledged both advisories, and stated that he was "correcting" his course. When the airplane was 2 nautical miles north of WARDE intersection, the approach controller informed the pilot that he appeared to be on the localizer course. The pilot acknowledged. At 1942, when the airplane was 1 nautical mile north of WARDE intersection, the approach controller terminated radar services, approved a change in advisory frequency, and told the pilot to report when he cancelled IFR services. The pilot acknowledged, and cancelled IFR services with the controller. The controller then advised the pilot that IFR services were cancelled, and to maintain his current transponder beacon code until he was on the ground. The pilot acknowledged, and there were no further communications from him. Leesburg Executive Airport runway 17 was a 5,500-foot-long and 100-foot-wide asphalt runway, which was equipped with a 4-light precision approach path indicator (PAPI) system, medium intensity runway lights (MIRL), a five-light omni-directional approach lighting system (ODALS), but no runway end identifier lights (REIL). A preliminary review of radar data revealed that an instrument flight rules target, with the same transponder code assigned to the accident airplane, approached Leesburg Airport from the north. Examination of the last 8 minutes of radar data revealed that the target was initially 16 nautical miles north from the end of runway 17. It then made 5-6 turns along and across the localizer course, left and right, as it proceeded toward the airport. When the target was about 16 nautical miles north of the runway, it was at an altitude of 5,800 feet msl, at a groundspeed of 186 knots. When the target was abeam STILL intersection, about 10 nautical miles north of the runway, it was at an altitude of 4,100 feet msl, at a groundspeed of 142 knots. When the target crossed over WARDE intersection, it was at an altitude of 2,000 feet msl, at a groundspeed of 127 knots. When the target was approximately 1 mile from the end of the runway, it began a left, 360-degree turn at an altitude of 1,600 feet msl, at a groundspeed of 98 knots. The turn was completed within a radius of approximately 0.2 nautical miles. Upon completion of the turn, the target was at an altitude of 1,000 feet msl. The target then continued to track toward the airport. Approximately 20 seconds later, the target began a left turn to the east, just before the data ended at 1945. The last radar target was at an altitude of 900 feet msl. The last radar return was located at 39 degrees, 05 minutes north latitude, and 77 degrees, 33 minutes west longitude. Several witnesses observed and heard the airplane. According to one witness, a student pilot, he was in his truck, stopped at a traffic light, when he first observed the airplane above and to the left of his position. The witness said the airplane appeared to be turning onto a 1-mile final, when it suddenly made a 60-degree right bank and started a right turn. The airplane stayed in the bank for about 5 seconds, then rolled into a 60-degree left bank. The airplane then rolled wings level, "suddenly" pitched over, and the nose of the airplane "went straight down" toward the ground. It did not spin. The witness also said it was night, there was a light drizzle, and it was not windy. He did not see the airplane fly through any clouds or fog. A second witness, who was standing in the backyard of a townhouse about a mile from the end of the runway, said that the airplane passed directly over his head about 25-30 feet above the townhouse. The airplane's engine was not operating, and all he heard was a "swoosh" of wind as it passed by. He could not see the airplane, but did observe its lights through the fog. Shortly after the witness lost sight of the airplane, he heard a "loud crashing noise." The witness also noted that it was dark and foggy, and that it had stopped raining about 30 minutes prior to the accident. A third witness, who lived across the street from the accident site, was in his home when he simultaneously heard a "strong wind sound" and a loud bang on the south side of his home, followed by a "dragging" noise, "similar to ice falling from [his] roof." He then heard a loud "crashing noise" outside. The witness also noted that he did not hear the airplane's engine operating prior to the accident. The witness responded to the accident site and observed fuel leaking from the airplane. He said it was not raining, it was not windy, and the sky was clearing. Subsequent examination of his home revealed no damage. A fourth witness, a young boy, was in his home when he observed the airplane from a bathroom window. He said the airplane was headed directly toward him, with its lights on, when it suddenly nosed over and crashed into a pile of dirt in his backyard. A fifth witness was in his home watching television when he heard a loud explosion, which shook his house. He thought a gas line had exploded. He went outside, smelled gas and called 911. The witness also said that it was "weird" that he did not hear the airplane prior to the crash. The witness also noted the weather conditions at the time of the accident were cloudy, but it was not raining or foggy. The airplane wreckage was examined at the site on March 20-22, 2003. All major components were accounted for at the scene. The airplane came to rest upright, with the nose pointed down, on the side of a large pile of dirt, which was located behind a row of private residences that were recently constructed. The wreckage was located at 39 degrees, 05 minutes north latitude, and 77 degrees, 33 minutes west longitude. The airplane came to rest on a heading of 080 degrees magnetic, at a ground elevation of approximately 347 feet msl, about 5,000 feet from the end of the runway and 2,000 feet left of course centerline. Another large pile of dirt was located directly behind, and at a higher ground elevation than, the airplane. The estimated slope for each pile of dirt was approximately 35 degrees. Examination of the top sections of the dirt piles revealed no impact damage. No visible ground scars were noted around the area of the wreckage. Splatters of propeller oil and mud were found on the back wall of two residences. Half of a propeller ring had penetrated a cellar window, and was located in the basement of one of the homes. One propeller, the top of the engine cowling, the alternator, Plexiglas, fractured sections of the propeller hub, propeller rings and associated ball bearings were located between one of the homes and the main wreckage. The main fuselage exhibited impact damage, and a majority of the instrument panel was pushed forward and came to rest on top of the engine. The main cabin door had partially separated and remained attached by its upper hinge. The empennage was deflected downward at the point where it attached to the fuselage Both wings remained attached at the wing root, but were pushed aft at an angle of about 30-35 degrees, and exhibited uniform leading edge impact damage. The right wing exhibited a crescent-shaped impact mark near the tip. The right aileron was intact, and the flap remained partially attached at the outboard hinge. Both surfaces sustained impact damage. The left aileron and flap were intact, and exhibited impact damage. Examination of the flap actuator revealed the flaps were in the up position. The tail section was relatively intact. The vertical stabilizer exhibited some leading edge impact damage, and its base was partially separated from the top of the empennage. The top section of the empennage exhibited a long impact mark consistent with the length of the vertical stabilizer. Embedded in the impact mark were flakes of gray paint, consistent with the paint on the vertical stabilizer. The tail section of the airplane also exhibited extensive wrinkling in the area below the vertical stabilizer. The rudder, right horizontal stabilizer and elevator were intact. The left horizontal stabilizer and elevator were intact, but the counterweight was partially attached to the elevator. Flight control continuity was established for each flight control surface to the cockpit. The landing gear was extended. Examination of the altimeter revealed that it was set at 29.80 inches Hg. The throttle was found near the idle position, the mixture control was found in the full rich position, and the propeller control was found in the full forward position. Examination of the fuel system revealed that both wing tanks had ruptured, but each fuel finger screen was absent of debris. The fuel selector handle and fuel selector arm were separated. The fuel lines from the left tank to the fuel selector valve were intact, but the lines from the right tank were twisted and separated. The fuel selector was removed and examined. Air was blown through each of the ports, and it was determined that it was set to the right tank. The low point fuel sump was intact. The sump was disassembled, and approximately 2 tablespoons of blue-colored fuel were removed from the sump bowl. The fuel screen was absent of debris. Blue-colored fuel was also removed from the fuel line between the fuel pump and throttle body. The fuel was absent of water and debris. A review of fuel records revealed that the pilot had purchased 30.4 gallons of 100 LL fuel on the day of the accident, which filled the tanks to just below the tabs. The engine remained attached to the airframe, but both propeller blades were separated from the hub assembly. Examination of both propeller blades revealed that one blade exhibited a forward bend, chordwise scratches and scoring, and a slight twist. The blade also exhibited substantial leading edge and trailing edge gouging. The second blade was straight, and exhibited some leading edge damage along the length of the blade. Both blade shanks exhibited heavy gouging and scoring. Rotational scoring was also noted on the propeller flange. The top spark plugs were removed, and appeared gray in color. Both magnetos were intact, but each was separated from their respective housing. The engine was retained for further examination. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for single engine land and sea, and instrument airplane. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was issued on November 23, 2002. Examination of the pilot's logbook revealed that he had accrued a total of 786 flight hours, of which, 19.5 hours were in make and model. Examination of airplane records revealed that the pilot had recently purchased the airplane. It was registered with the FAA on February 10, 2003. The airplane and engine had accrued a total time of 59 hours at the time of the accident. Weather reported at the airport, at 1942, included winds from 280 degrees at 3 knots, temperature 41 degrees F, dewpoint 39 degrees F, and barometric pressure of 29.80 inches Hg. The visibility was 10 statute miles with broken clouds at 3,400 feet, broken clouds at 4,100 feet, and overcast clouds at 5,500 feet.

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