# Accident 19890918035389A: Mooney M20C, Neihart, MT, September 18, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 1989, 07:22 local time
- Place: Neihart, MT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.8895° N, 110.7200° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8895&lon=-110.7200&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3456X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3456X-1989-09-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20C (registry code 5870208, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN89LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA221) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890918035389A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

REPORTED WAS ON TOP WHEN WEATHER DETERIORATED, DESCENDED INTO TREES ON MOUNTAIN TOP. REPORTED HE WAS VFR AT IMPACT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN89LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA221), Sep 18, 1989: Mooney M20C (N3456X), Neihart, MT, destroyed. Probable cause: VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. RELATED FACTORS WERE: THE HIGH TERRAIN AND ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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