William J. Watts and Mihoko Matsuda Nelsen
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boise, Idaho
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N231EC
Location: Baker City, OR
Accident Number: WPR18FA218
Date & Time: 08/11/2018, 1017 PDT
Registration: N231EC
Aircraft: Mooney M20K
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Flight instrument malf/fail
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On August 11, 2018, at 1017 Pacific daylight time a Mooney M20K, N231EC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Baker, Oregon. The private pilot and student pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
About 1015, a pilot who was in his hangar about 1,300 ft southwest of the runway 31 midfield at Baker City Municipal Airport (BKE), observed a low-wing airplane flying directly overhead toward the south. It caught his attention because it was inside the normal left downwind traffic pattern but was flying lower than appropriate, between 600 and 700 ft above ground level (agl). He then heard the airplane reduce engine power to a setting that seemed appropriate for an airplane descending to land. He did not see the airplane emitting any smoke or vapors. He anticipated watching the airplane land, but did not see it.
About the same time, the owner of a local fixed base operator located on the airfield heard the pilot of the accident airplane report that he was on final for runway 31. She did not hear the pilot make any additional calls, and did not hear the airplane land.
Multiple witnesses located south of the airport recounted seeing a low-wing airplane flying south-southeast in a direction typically followed by airplanes making a landing similar to the approach for runway 31. Two witnesses saw the airplane begin a left turn out of view beyond trees, followed by the sound of an impact. One witness saw the airplane turn, then immediately transition to a rapid, nose-down descent. Another witness located under the approach path for runway 31 saw the airplane fly overhead to the south and then off into the distance. Based on its location, he assumed it had just taken off, and a short time later, he looked back and could no longer hear the airplane, but saw that it was in a nose-dive.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 77, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present:Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:Yes
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/31/2018
Occupational Pilot:No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 01/05/2018
Flight Time: 248 hours (Total, all aircraft), 50.4 hours (Total, this make and model), 21 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 3.2 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Student Pilot Information
Certificate: Student
Age: 70, Female
Airplane Rating(s):None
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s):None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/31/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 40 hours (Total, all aircraft), 6 hours (Total, this make and model)
Pilot
The pilot held a private pilot license certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land, issued on December 7, 2016. The pilot's most recent flight instructor stated that he was initially approached by the pilot after another instructor had provided initial flight training. After his initial assessment, the instructor was concerned that the training would take a long time to complete, and after about 70 hours of instruction, the pilot was ready to solo. As the training progressed, the instructor was still concerned that the pilot was not learning and developing quickly enough and often flew "behind the power curve," allowing the airplane to "get ahead of him."
The pilot initially failed the practical test for his private pilot certificate on November 28, 2016. His disapproval notice stated, "Demonstrated poor situational awareness and single pilot resource management during cross country execution. Power on stall with turn was unsat[isfactory] as well." He was reexamined, and passed the practical exam on his second attempt.
The pilot had 101 hours of flight experience (69.5 hours dual) by the time he was issued his private pilot license, the majority of which was in a Cessna 152. After receiving his pilot's license, the pilot told the instructor that he was looking for a faster airplane to commute in and was interested in a Mooney. The instructor expressed concern that the Mooney was too fast and complex for the pilot's level of experience.
The pilot transitioned to a Piper PA-28-180 and continued to receive flight instruction. He received his high-performance/complex airplane endorsement on January 5, 2018, after 7.5 hours of instruction in a Cessna 210.
The instructor stated that, after the first 5 flight lessons while training for his high-performance/complex airplane endorsement, the pilot was insistent that he was ready to fly solo, but the instructor disagreed, and as a test, they performed a short cross-country flight with the instructor observing. The instructor reported that the flight did not go well and that as they approached an airport for landing, the pilot selected the wrong advisory frequency, flew the downwind approach well above traffic pattern altitude (2,000 ft agl), and did not see another airplane that was on the runway. The instructor interjected, and the pilot continued to fly the airplane at high speed, past the airport, while trying to establish a stabilized approach. Eventually, the instructor asked him to turn onto the base leg, and by the time they had reached the final leg, he had still not extended the landing gear. When the instructor asked him to go-around, he instead extended the landing gear, and then forgot to retract it during the subsequent climbout.
The instructor stated that the pilot consistently had difficulty maintaining the correct approach speeds and often landed hard. He had trained the pilot in the use of speed brakes during the landing approach. About 2 months before the accident, the pilot landed the airplane so hard that it sustained a propeller strike and the nose gear was damaged.
The pilot continued to receive flight training, and by the time of the accident, he had accrued 50.4 hours of flight experience in the accident airplane make and model, 32.4 hours of which were solo. He last received flight instruction on June 9, 2018.
The pilots flight logbooks indicated that he had flown to BKE one time before, on April 18, 2018, for what was a solo flight in the accident airplane.
Student Pilot-Rated Passenger
The passenger was the partner of the pilot. She held a student pilot certificate issued on April 9, 2018, and a third-class medical certificate issued on January 31, 2018. At the time of examination, she reported 6 total flight hours in the preceding 6 months. No pilot logbooks were recovered; however, the pilot's instructor stated that the passenger had about 40 hours of flight experience.
The pilot's daughter stated that her father typically likes to fly with pilots who are more experienced than him. Likewise, an acquaintance of the passenger also stated that the pilot was interested in having a "flying buddy" fly with him. Both the instructor and the acquaintance stated that in recent discussions, the passenger had confided that both her and the pilot still found landing problematic, and that the pilot often had problems slowing the airplane, particularly for landing. The passenger also stated that she had learnt to fly because she was not confident in the pilots flying abilities, and that his skills were not improving.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Mooney
Registration: N231EC
Model/Series: M20K No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1979
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 25-0167
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 01/02/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2900 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 56 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3439.3 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental Motors
ELT: C91A installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series:TSIO-360LB(1)
Registered Owner: CKD LLC
Rated Power:210 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
The pilot purchased the airplane on February 15, 2018. Since purchase, the maintenance was primarily performed by the pilot's instructor, who also held a mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings and inspection authorization.
The most recent maintenance entry in the engine logbook, dated June 4, 2018, was for a crankshaft dye penetrant inspection and propeller replacement after the propeller ground strike event involving the accident pilot.
The airplane was equipped with a Century 41 Autopilot. According to the instructor, the pilot preferred to hand-fly the airplane and never engaged the system.
The airplane was last serviced with 37.65 gallons of fuel on July 28, 2018, which was also the date of the last entry in the pilot's logbook.
The Mooney M20K Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) Before Landing checklist stated the following:
CAUTION - From a flaps retracted trimmed condition, the force required for nose up pitch control will rapidly increase when power is reduced to idle and as flaps are fully extended. Timely trimming action should be accomplished to minimize forces. Control force change with extending landing gear is minimal."
According to the pilot's instructor, full nose-up trim was appropriate for the accident airplane during landing, as in his experience, the nose-down forces during landing were significant.
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KBKE, 3373 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 2 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1753 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 340°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:290°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.02 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Caldwell, ID (EUL)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Baker City, OR (BKE)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1030 MDT
Type of Airspace:Class D
Airport Information
Airport: Baker City Muni (BKE)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation:3373 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 31
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5085 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Traffic Pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 44.813333, -117.793889
The wreckage was located in a pasture about 1 1/4 miles south-southeast of the runway 31 threshold, about 2,250 ft left of the extended runway centerline. The fuselage came to rest on a heading of about 090° magnetic and had sustained crush damage from the nose to the forward edge of the vertical stabilizer. Both wings exhibited leading-edge crush damage perpendicular to the wing chord, and the smell of aviation fuel was present at the site.
Airframe
The cabin flight controls and instrument panel were heavily damaged, along with the control yoke, rudder pedals, and all associated bellcranks and push-pull tubes, which were either fragmented, bent, or crushed through to their respective control surfaces. Each separation exhibited failure features consistent with overload. The throttle, mixture, and propeller controls were in the full forward position. The landing gear and flaps were found in their fully-extended positions, and the speed brakes were retracted.
Both wings remained attached to their respective wing roots at all attach points. Both sustained leading-edge crush damage, which compressed the aileron control cavity and buckled the skins to the main spar.
The moving tail section remained attached to the aft bulkhead, and the elevators remained attached at their respective hinges. Sixteen threads were visible on the stabilizer trim jackscrew actuator, which corresponded to a full nose-up trim position (about 25% beyond the power-off landing position). The elevator and rudder push-pull tubes were continuous from their control arms to the forward cabin.
The fuel supply lines from the tank to the forward cabin were intact and all fittings were secure. The remaining components of the fuel system sustained crush and fragmentation damage, and the gascolator was breached. The gascolator fuel filter was clear, and the fuel selector valve was in the left tank position.
Engine
The engine remained partially attached to the airframe via fuel lines, electrical wires, and engine controls. The fuel manifold valve and engine driven fuel pump supply lines contained fuel that had the odor of aviation gasoline, and was negative for water when tested with water-detecting paste.
The top spark plugs were undamaged. Their electrodes were coated in light grey deposits and exhibited "worn out – normal" wear signatures when compared to the Champion AV-27 Aviation Check-A-Plug chart. Visual inspection of the combustion chambers did not reveal any evidence of foreign object damage or detonation, and all combustion surfaces exhibited light grey deposits consistent with normal operation. There was no evidence of catastrophic engine failure, and mechanical continuity was established from the crankshaft through to the valve train and accessory section.
The turbocharger remained attached to the engine and its v-band clamps were secure. The inner surface of the exhaust pipe was coated in light brown deposits. The turbine wheel was coated in similar deposits, appeared undamaged, and could be rotated smoothly by hand.
Propeller
The propeller and hub had separated from the engine crankshaft and were buried about 12 inches into the turf just forward of the main wreckage at what appeared to be the initial impact point. Both blades had cut through the turf, which resulted in the propeller effectively becoming burrowed into the ground. Both propeller blades exhibited chordwise abrasions, and the separation point on the crankshaft exhibited a conical 45° shear lip around its entire circumference, with serrated, ratchet-like tear features around most of the crown.
Vacuum Pump
The airplane was equipped with a dry air vacuum pump, model 211CC, manufactured by Airborne. The pump remained attached to its accessory pad on the engine, and removal revealed that its plastic drive coupling had sheared. The separation surfaces exhibited a spiral scar at the core, with smear damage to the outer radius. Oil was present within the pump cavity, the rotor had shattered, and all six vanes were intact.
According to the Airborne Pneumatic System Maintenance Manual and Airborne Service Letter (SL) 43A, any oil contamination within the pump may cause failure, and requires replacement of the pump. Likewise, SL 38 stated that any vacuum pump installed on an engine that had sustained a sudden stoppage, such as a propeller strike during a gear-up landing, be replaced before the next flight. SL 58 prescribed mandatory pump replacement intervals and called for replacement at 500 aircraft hours or 6 years from date of manufacture, whichever occurred first.
The vacuum pump was manufactured and installed in 1994 and had accumulated about 1,400 hours of total flight time. During that period, the airplane had been involved in three propeller strikes, and the engine had been replaced twice. Maintenance records did not indicate that the pump had been replaced or serviced since installation.
The airplane was equipped with a standby vacuum system manufactured by Precise Flight in accordance with supplemental type certificate SA2168NM and SE1780NM. The system included an, "Instrument Source Pump Inop Warning" indicator composed of a red light emitting diode mounted on the left side of the instrument panel. The indicator was designed to alert the pilot of a vacuum pump failure. The airplane was also equipped with a vacuum pressure gauge along with a vacuum malfunction indicator light, which was designed to flash should the vacuum pressure drop to below 4 inches of mercury. The standby vacuum actuation cable had broken away from the actuation handle, and the pump shuttle valve sustained impact damage; therefore, the operational status of the system could not be determined.
The pilot's instructor/mechanic, who performed the last annual inspection and flew the airplane with the pilot on June 9, 2018, stated that the vacuum pump was operative at that time, and the pilot had not mentioned a failure since that time.
Speed Brakes
The airplane was equipped with a speed brake system manufactured by Precise Flight in accordance with supplemental type certificate SA2174NM. The system was driven by the airplane's vacuum system and comprised wing-mounted speed brake paddles operated by a suction bellows in the tailcone area. The brakes could be operated by a push button switch on the pilot's control yoke and a toggle switch on the instrument panel. In the event of a vacuum failure, closure springs retracted the speed brakes back into the wings.
The flight manual stated that the speed brake system was used for expedited descent at low cruise power, glide path control, and "lift dumping" in the landing roll.
Stall Warning System
The airplane was equipped with a vane-actuated stall warning switch installed in the left wing, which energized a stall warning horn located in the cabin. The switch had sustained crush damage to its forward bracket, but appeared to be functional when electrically tested. The pilot was utilizing a noise-cancelling headset; however, according to the instructor, the stall warning horn could be heard with the headset.
Medical And Pathological Information
According to the autopsy report from the Oregon State Police – State Medical Examiner, the cause of death for both occupants was multiple blunt force injuries. The examination was limited by the degree of injury; however, no significant natural disease for either occupant was identified.
Pilot
Toxicology testing performed by the FAA's Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified losartan and 6-beta-naltrexol in urine and liver for the pilot. Losartan is a prescription blood pressure medication and is not generally considered impairing. 6-beta-naltrexol is a metabolite of naltrexone. Records from the pilot's personal physician revealed that he had a history of Hashimoto's thyroiditis treated with a low dose of naltrexone. Thyroid treatment is an off-label use of the drug.
Student Pilot-Rated Passenger
The student pilot had not reported any medical conditions or medication use during her FAA medical examination.
Toxicology testing performed by the FAA's Forensic Sciences Laboratory did not identify any tested-for substances for the passenger.
Additional Information
The POH indicated a stall speed 56.4 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed) at a gross weight of 2,900 lbs, with full flaps, and forward center of gravity. At bank angles of 30°, 45°, and 60°, the stall speed increased to 60.2, 68.6, and 82.3 KIAS, respectively. The maximum flap extension speed was 112 KIAS, and the recommended final approach speed was 75 KIAS.
Based on the accident location relative to the runway 31 extended centerline, the turn radius required to turn from the downwind leg to the final approach would have been about 1,125 ft.
Airplane turning performance from Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators (NAVWEPS 00-80T-80), Figure 2.29, General Turning Performance (Constant Altitude, Steady Turn) indicated that an airplane with a true airspeed of 75 knots would have to bank 28° in order to fly a turn with a radius of 1,125 ft. At 112 knots, the bank angle required would have been 45°.
Location: Baker City, OR
Accident Number: WPR18FA218
Date & Time: 08/11/2018, 1017 PDT
Registration: N231EC
Aircraft: Mooney M20K
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On August 11, 2018, at 1017 Pacific daylight time a Mooney M20K, N231EC, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during the landing approach into Baker City Municipal Airport, Baker, Oregon. The private pilot and student pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to CKD LLC., and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight cross-country. The flight departed Caldwell Industrial Airport, Caldwell, Idaho about 1045 mountain daylight time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
About 1015, a pilot located in his hangar about 1,300 ft southwest of runway 31 midfield, observed a low-wing airplane flying directly overhead and to the south. It caught his attention because it was flying lower than the pattern altitude at between 600 and 700 ft above ground level, and it was inside the normal left downwind traffic pattern. He then heard the airplane reduce engine power, a sound that he was familiar with, and that seemed appropriate for an airplane descending to land. He did not see the airplane emitting any smoke or vapors, and a short time later he got onto his motorcycle and drove along the adjacent frontage road. He instinctively looked to the runway threshold in anticipation of watching the airplane land but did not see the airplane and thought nothing more of it. He stated that in retrospect this was unusual, as the airplane should have landed about that time.
About the same time, the owner of a local fixed base operator was in her office, located on the airfield. She had just dispatched one of the company airplanes with a student and instructor and heard it, along with a Forest Service and local agricultural airplane, make radio calls reporting takeoff. She then heard the pilot of the accident airplane report that he was on final for runway 31. She did not hear the pilot make any more calls, and did not hear the airplane landing.
Multiple witnesses located to the south of the airport recounted observations of a low-wing airplane flying south-southeast in a direction typically followed by airplanes making a landing approach for runway 31. Two witnesses observed the airplane then begin a left turn and out of view beyond trees, followed by the sound of a thump. One witness observed the airplane turn, and then immediately transition to a rapid nose-down descent. Another witness located under the approach path for runway 31 observed the airplane fly overhead to the south and then off into the distance. Based on its location, he assumed it had just taken off, and a short time later he looked back and could no longer hear the airplane, but saw it was in a nose-dive.
The wreckage was located in a pasture about 1 1/4 miles south-southeast of the runway 31 threshold. The fuselage came to rest on a heading of about 090° magnetic and had sustained crush damage from the nose through to the forward edge of the vertical stabilizer. Both wings exhibited leading-edge crush damage perpendicular to the wing chord, and the smell of aviation fuel was present at the site.
The propeller and hub had separated from the engine and were buried about 12 inches into the turf just forward of the main wreckage at what appeared to be the first impact point. The turf surrounding the propeller had been sliced open, and an 18-inch square scallop of sod was ejected about 5 ft to the south. Both blades appeared to have cut through the turf, resulting in the propeller effectively becoming screwed into the ground.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Mooney
Registration: N231EC
Model/Series: M20K No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KBKE, 3373 ft msl
Observation Time: 1753 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 2 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 8°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 290°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.02 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Caldwell, ID (EUL)
Destination: Baker City, OR (BKE)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 44.813333, -117.793889
William Watts and Dr. Mihoko Matsuda Nelsen
Watts, William "Bill" Jeff and his wife; Nelsen, Mihoko Matsuda, passed away on August 11, 2018.
A Celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 25th at 10:00 am at LifeSpring Christian Church, 174 N. Star Rd., Star, Idaho.
Please join us to share your memories.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mooney Summit, The Bill Gilliland Foundation at: https://www.mooneysummit.com
Two people died when the Mooney M20K 231 plane in which they were traveling crashed nose first into a Baker Valley hay field near the airport Saturday morning.
The victims have been identified as William J. Watts, 77, who was piloting the plane, and Mihoko Matsuda Nelsen, 70, both of Middleton, Idaho.
The two had been traveling from Caldwell, Idaho, and were believed to have been enroute to the Baker City Airport, Sheriff Travis Ash stated in a press release.
The Baker County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the crash about 10:20 a.m. Saturday.
Ash said the hay field where the plane crashed is owned by Sam Johnson. It is near Lindley Road and Interstate 84 north of Baker City.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration N-number registry, the airplane was a 1979 single-engine Mooney M20K 231 registered to a business in Canyon County, Idaho.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board responded to Baker City to remove the airplane. The agencies are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the crash, Ash said.
The Baker County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the site by the Baker City Fire Department, Baker Rural Fire Department, Baker City Police Department, Oregon State Police and the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office.
Original article ➤ https://www.bakercityherald.com
The Baker County Sheriff's Office says the Mooney M20K 231 airplane crashed near Lindley Road and I-84, in a hay field belonging to Sam Johnson.
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they found that the airplane had crashed nose-first into the ground. The two people on board did not survive the crash. Their identities will not be released until next of kin has been notified.
The airplane had been traveling from Caldwell and was believed to have been en route to the Baker Airport.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration N-number registry, the airplane was a single-engine Mooney M20K, manufactured in 1979, and registered to a business in Canyon County.
The Baker County Sheriff’s Office is working with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board to determine the cause of the crash.
The Baker City Fire Department, Baker Rural Fire Department, Baker City Police Department, and Oregon State Police assisted the Baker County Sheriff's Office at the scene.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.ktvb.com
