On April 27, 1989, a Mooney M20J (registration N201TP) operated by Stratton, William A. was involved in an aviation accident near Jasper, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF HIS ALTITUDE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DAWN AND GROUND FOG IN THE AREA, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT'S LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot flying toward an airport in patchy fog misread his altimeter, striking pine trees at a site with an elevation of approximately 220 feet.
What happened
The pilot was operating the aircraft in conditions characterized by patchy fog. Despite being aware of the reduced visibility, he believed he had cleared the fog layer and continued flying toward the airport. His objective was to visually identify any lights on the airfield to aid in navigation.
During this phase of flight, the pilot estimated that his altimeter indicated an altitude of approximately 1300 feet. However, the aircraft impacted pine trees before reaching the intended destination. The accident site was located at an elevation of about 220 feet above sea level.