MOONEY M20
Clifton, TN — June 18, 2016
Event Information
| Date | June 18, 2016 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA16CA246 |
| Event ID | 20160708X95825 |
| Location | Clifton, TN |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 35.42361, -85.73083 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | MOONEY |
| Model | M20 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | IMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 4 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The flight's encounter with unforecast extreme turbulence, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and structural damage.
Full Narrative
The pilot stated that he was conducting a cross-country flight and flying in instrument meteorological conditions at an altitude of 7,000 ft mean sea level (msl) when the airplane encountered turbulence. While climbing to a higher altitude, he encountered extreme turbulence at 8,500 ft msl. The pilot lost control of the airplane, which entered an uncontrolled dive, and descended to 5,600 ft msl before he was able to regain control. The pilot subsequently landed without further incident. A post-flight inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation; however, he stated that he may have overstressed the airplane during the recovery from the uncontrolled descent. A review of weather data revealed that there were no SIGMETs or AIRMETs for turbulence issued for the area of the accident, around the time of the accident.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.