# NTSB ANC81FA085: Mooney M20K, N231PY, Talkeetna, AK, July 28, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 28, 1981
- Place: Talkeetna, AK · TALKEETNA, AK
- Location: 62.3239° N, 150.1094° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Talkeetna, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3239&lon=-150.1094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 9, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123627
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC81FA085
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81FA085

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3555  81/7/28  NR.TALKEETNA,AK       MOONEY M20K         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 58, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1350                    N231PY              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MT MCKINLEY PARK,AK         TALKEETNA,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- TRIED CROSSING MTN PASS BLO CLDS.XMTD IN CLDS,CLBG,AFT ATMTG 180DEG TURN.CRASHED IN HI SPD DSCNT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231PY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231PY-1983-11-29), registration cancelled 1983-11-29, S/N 25-0350 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810728046039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810728046039A), Jul 28, 1981: Mooney M20K, Talkeetna, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Encountered low ceiling en route. Made 180, entered clouds. Struck mountainside. Weather forecast for MVFR to IFR.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.