Mooney M20C accident near West Columbia, South Carolina, June 7, 1994
On June 7, 1994 at about 5:35 am local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N6879U, was destroyed in an accident near West Columbia, South Carolina (Columbia Metropolitan airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING CLIMBOUT BECAUSE OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS WERE LOW CEILINGS AND THE DARK NIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1994 · about 5:35 am local time
- Place
- West Columbia, South Carolina · Columbia Metropolitan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6879U · no longer on the register · serial 2582
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED VIRGINIA LATE ON THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND ARRIVED IN SOUTH CAROLINA EARLY IN THE MORNING ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. AFTER REFUELING THE AIRPLANE WITH 10.1 GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL, THE PILOT SPOKE BRIEFLY WITH THE FLIGHT LINE PERSONNEL. DURING THAT BRIEF CONVERSATION THE PILOT NEVER MENTIONED AN AIRCRAFT PROBLEM. WITHIN THIRTY MINUTES OF LANDING THE PILOT HAD REQUESTED AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CLEARANCE, AND DEPARTED. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST AFTER THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD A 'PROB'. ATTEMPTS BY THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER TO ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT FAILED; RADAR CONTACT WAS NEVER ESTABLISHED. THE PILOT DID NOT EXPRESS WHAT TYPE PROBLEM HE WAS EXPERIENCING. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PILOT IMPAIRMENT OR INCAPACITATION. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL WEATHER OBSERVATION, INSTRUMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ATTEMPTED NIGHT FLIGHT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,472 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SBO Swainsboro GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29, 8,602 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 am from CAE, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.