ADAMSTOWN, MD, USA
N3357X
MOONEY M20E
DURING FLIGHT IN THE AREA OF SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT AND CRASHED. A WITNESS SAW AN AIRPLANE DIVE TOWARD THE GROUND, BUT IT WENT OUT OF HIS VIEW BEHIND THE MOUNTAIN. HE DID NOT HEAR A CRASH AND ASSUMED THE AIRPLANE HAD RECOVERED FROM THE DIVE. LATER IN THE DAY, THE PILOT'S WIFE REPORTED THE AIRPLANE WAS OVERDUE. ABOUT 24 HOURS LATER, THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A WOODED AREA ON THE EAST SLOPE OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE AIRPLANE HAD IMPACTED THE EAST SLOPE AT ABOUT A 70 DEG ANGLE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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