Ocean City Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ocean City, New Jersey 08226
Sunday, October 26, 1997 16:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During final approach, about 200 feet above ground level, the pilot experienced a loss of altitude. He added full power, but the aircraft struck a tree about 250 feet from the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported wind shear in the area. There was no evidence of pre-impact malfunction to the airplane. Winds reported at an airport 12 miles northeast were from 080 degrees at 7 knots. The airport manager reported that there was heavy rain and fog at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude. Factors in the accident were the rain and fog.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/26/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City OCEAN CITY
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08226
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport OCEAN CITY MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 26N
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 240
Airport Elevation 8
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1554 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID ACY
Elevation of weather observation facility 76
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1765
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 26 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1615
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N252MY
NTSB Number NYC98LA021
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mooney
Aircraft Model M20K
Aircraft Series Identifier M20K
Aircraft Serial Number 25-1097
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 Sep 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 28
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JESSE L POOLE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 960 KINGS WAY
Aircraft Owner City NAPLES
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34104
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BDR
Departure City BRIDGEPORT
Departure State CT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1435
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 26N
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 6
Runway Length 2977
Runway Width 59
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --