20040523011799A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Mooney M20K · Pinedale, WY · May 23, 2004

Date: May 23, 2004 · 11:38 local
Place: Pinedale, WY
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N231DL
NTSB investigation: NTSBDEN04FA079
Reported as: Mooney M20K
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 3

N231DLRegistration cancelled Jul 30, 2004 · Mooney M20KS/N 25-0010 · Built 1978 Airframe modelMooney M20K Engine modelContinental TSIO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) During a cross country flight from sun river, or to scottsbuff, NE, the aircraft was lost on radar at 14,000 feet and in a left hand spiral. The aircraft wreckage was located on the northeast face of gannett peak, the highest peak in the state.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM SUN RIVER, OR TO SCOTTSBUFF, NE, THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOST ON RADAR AT 14,000 FEET AND IN A LEFT HAND SPIRAL. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST FACE OF GANNETT PEAK, THE HIGHEST PEAK IN THE STATE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB DEN04FA079Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPinedale, WYThe pilot's inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering. Contributing factors were the downdraft, the snow shower weather and mountainous terrain.May 23, 2004 · Destroyed