# Accident 20040523011799A: Mooney M20K, Pinedale, WY, May 23, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 2004, 11:38 local time
- Place: Pinedale, WY
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.1811° N, 109.6569° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1811&lon=-109.6569&mi=10
- Aircraft: N231DL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231DL-2004-07-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20K (registry code 5870220, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-360 series (registry code 17019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN04FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04FA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040523011799A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 DEN04FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04FA079), May 23, 2004: Mooney M20K (N231DL), Pinedale, WY, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The 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…

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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