The Story
A few years back a Mooney M20C, collided with trees and terrain in Watsonville, California. The pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Madera Municipal Airport, Madera, California, about 1930, with a planned destination of Watsonville. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The airplane collided with trees and terrain while the pilot was searching for the airport in instrument meteorological conditions. Prior to departure, the non-instrument rated pilot programmed the flight’s intended route into the moving map display of his GPS, as a means to navigate. After passing over mountains located to the east of the airport, the pilot observed the ground to be obscured by fog. The pilot continued further west, maneuvering the airplane over Monterey bay and then circled back to the east toward the airport. While en route, the pilot was searching for the lights on the golf driving range, located about 1/2 mile west of the airport. He was unable to see the lights, and the airplane impacted mountainous terrain, coming to rest in an oak tree. Several minutes before the accident weather reports indicated overcast ceilings of 300 feet above ground level with a visibility of 7 miles.
What went wrong
What went wrong here? I’d like to say it’s the classic VFR into IMC but the first paragraph plainly states “ Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed.”
I’m so thankful the pilot and his passenger were okay and that we can learn from his mistake.
But what would cause this private pilot to takeoff knowing the weather was IFR?
I’d love to hear your opinion! Leave a comment below.
