At about 13:18 eastern time, a Mooney M20R crashed in Bluffton, killing the pilot and passenger. The pilot had filed an IFR flight plan and had taken off about nine minutes earlier. A controller at Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station said the aircraft was level at 3,000 feet on a heading of 070 degrees when the heading changed to 010 degrees and the altitude decreased, followed by a continuous turn to the right and corresponding descent in altitude. The last radar indication showed the airplane on a heading of 230 degrees and an altitude of 2,400 feet. The airplane struck high voltage power lines and burst into flames.
February 04, Bluffton, S.C. / Mooney Ovation
At about 13:18 eastern time, a Mooney M20R crashed in Bluffton, killing the pilot and passenger. The pilot had filed an IFR flight plan and had taken off about nine minutes earlier. A controller at Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station said the aircraft was level at 3,000 feet on a heading of 070 degrees when the heading changed to 010 degrees and the altitude decreased, followed by a continuous turn to the right and corresponding descent in altitude. The last radar indication showed the airplane on a heading of 230 degrees and an altitude of 2,400 feet. The airplane struck high voltage power lines and burst into flames....
Key Takeaways:
- A Mooney M20R aircraft crashed in Bluffton around 13:18 ET, killing both the pilot and passenger.
- Shortly after takeoff, radar data showed the IFR-filed flight deviate from its 3,000-foot level flight, exhibiting an unexpected change in heading and a continuous descent.
- The aircraft ultimately struck high voltage power lines and burst into flames, with its last recorded altitude at 2,400 feet.
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