Katama Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edgartown, Massachusetts 02539
Tuesady, June 7, 1994 11:44 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ACCORDING TO THE AIRPORT MANAGER, HE DID NOT WITNESS THE PILOT'S PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT THE PILOT DEPARTED RUNWAY 24 IN A NORMAL MANNER AS HE DID ON MANY OCCASIONS. HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRPLANE INITIALLY DUE TO THE LOW VISIBILITY. HE SAID IT WAS 1/2 MILE IN FOG. HE STATED THAT HE SAW THE AIRPLANE IN A DESCENDING RIGHT HAND SPIRAL. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 300 FEET SOUTHWEST OF RUNWAY 21 AND WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE AIRPLANE WAS EXAMINED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE PITOT TUBE COVER WAS IN PLACE ON THE PITOT TUBE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THAT FAILED TO REMOVE THE PITOT TUBE COVER WHICH LED TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/7/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1144
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City EDGARTOWN
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02539
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 KATAMA AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1B2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 40
Airport Elevation 20
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1145 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID MVY
Elevation of weather observation facility 68
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 1685
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 7 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1215
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 N4393H
NTSB Number BFO94FA091
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20J
Aircraft Series Identifier M20J
Aircraft Serial Number 24-0722
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
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 Jun 24 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EVANGELINE SPANOS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 20 BOWDITCH RD
Aircraft Owner City JAMAICA PLAIN
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02130
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PETER N SPANOS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 39 CROCKER DRIVE
Operator City EDGARTOWN
Operator State MA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 02539
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 1B2
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OGS
Destination City OGDENSBURG
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 24
Runway Length 2700
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --