# Accident 19971220039209A: Mooney M20F, Safford, AZ, December 20, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 20, 1997, 09:55 local time
- Place: Safford, AZ
- Airport: Safford Municipal Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8104° N, 109.3592° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8104&lon=-109.3592&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2965L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2965L-1998-03-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20F (registry code 5870214, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Reported engine: LYC IO360A1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,165 total, 398 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA059) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971220039209A

## Narrative

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

PILOT INADVERTANTLY ENTERED FOGBANK POSSIBLE SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. COLLODED WITH TERRAIN. RATING NOT INDICATED.(.4) THE PILOT TOOKOFF FOR HIS DESTINATION AFTER HE HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING THAT INDICATED THE AREA WAS GOING TO BE MARGINAL WITH RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. THE PILOT DECIDED TO TRY AND MAKE IT THROUGH AFTER SPOTTING LOW LYING CLOUDS TO THE NORTH OF THEIR INTENDED ROUTE. THE PILOT BEGAN TO FOLLOW A PAVED ROAD AND THOUGHT HE COULD REMAIN CLEAR OF CLOUDS. AFTER HE TURNED AROUND A CORNER OF A MOUNTAIN HE INADVERTENTLY ENTERED THE CLOUDS. AS HE BEGAN A CLIMBING LEFT TURN THE AIRCRAFT HIT A HILL AND SMALL TREE. THE SECOND PILOT INSISTED THEY TURN AROUND THREE TIMES, TO NO AVAIL.

## 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 LAX98LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA059), Dec 20, 1997: Mooney M20F (N2965L), Safford, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's poor in-flight judgement and intentional flight into known adverse weather conditions. Related factors were, mountainous terrain, rain and fog.

## Other reports on N2965L (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19941015042059I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941015042059I), Oct 15, 1994: Mooney M20F (N2965L), Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. Power on landing into strong wind. Heard horn prior. Thought stall horn. Landed gear up. Failed extend gear.

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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