# Accident 19980406010219A: Mooney M20F, Lodgepole, MT, April 6, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 6, 1998, 09:00 local time
- Place: Lodgepole, MT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.7800° N, 108.5299° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7800&lon=-108.5299&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9131V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9131V-1998-11-27) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,300 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98FA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98FA062) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980406010219A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON APRIL 6, 1998, AT 0900 LCL, A/C N9131V, A MOONEY, DEPARTED HAVRE, MONTANA, FOR HOME OF RECORD IN JORDAN, MONTANA. WEATHER AT HAVRE WAS REPORTED AT 0900 HOURS, 08010KT, 10SM, OVCO18, 05/02, A2983. THE WEATHER AT JORDAN, MONTANA, WAS FOGGY AND LOW OVERCAST AS REPORTED BY THE LOCAL SHERIFF. THE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA ^ATTEMPTED THE FLIGHT AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DISCOVERED IN THE MOUNTAINS AT LAT-48"19', LONG 08" 31', WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 87 NM NORTHWEST OF JORDAN. (.4)AFTER INTENTIONALLY ENTERING AN AREA OF ADVERSE WEATHER ALONG HIS INTENDED ROUTE, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THROUGH FORESTED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY THROUGH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN AN AREA WHERE VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED BY LOW CEILINGS, FOG, SNOW SHOWERS, AND DRIZZLE, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES.

## 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 SEA98FA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98FA062), Apr 6, 1998: Mooney M20F (N9131V), Lodgepole, MT, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain after flying into an area of known adverse weather. Factors include low ceilings, fog, snow showers, drizzle, and trees along his intended…

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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