Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

West Columbia, South Carolina 29169
Tuesady, June 7, 1994 1:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED VIRGINIA LATE ON THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND ARRIVED IN SOUTH CAROLINA EARLY IN THE MORNING ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. AFTER REFUELING THE AIRPLANE WITH 10.1 GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL, THE PILOT SPOKE BRIEFLY WITH THE FLIGHT LINE PERSONNEL. DURING THAT BRIEF CONVERSATION THE PILOT NEVER MENTIONED AN AIRCRAFT PROBLEM. WITHIN THIRTY MINUTES OF LANDING THE PILOT HAD REQUESTED AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CLEARANCE, AND DEPARTED. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST AFTER THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD A 'PROB'. ATTEMPTS BY THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER TO ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT FAILED; RADAR CONTACT WAS NEVER ESTABLISHED. THE PILOT DID NOT EXPRESS WHAT TYPE PROBLEM HE WAS EXPERIENCING. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PILOT IMPAIRMENT OR INCAPACITATION. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL WEATHER OBSERVATION, INSTRUMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ATTEMPTED NIGHT FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING CLIMBOUT BECAUSE OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS WERE LOW CEILINGS AND THE DARK NIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/7/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 135
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WEST COLUMBIA
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29169
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CAE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 236
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 152 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID CAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 236
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1250
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1150
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 8 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1010
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6879U
NTSB Number ATL94FA116
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20C
Aircraft Series Identifier M20C
Aircraft Serial Number 2582
Certified Max Gross Weight 2575
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 36
Airframe Hours 3472
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CENTRAL ENTERPRISES INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2316 BAYNARD BLVD
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19802
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 135
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SBO
Destination City SWAINSBORO
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 8602
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --