# NTSB ATL81FA071: Mooney M20J, N201YX, Cades, SC, May 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 7, 1981
- Place: Cades, SC · CADES, SC
- Location: 33.7866° N, 79.7826° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cades, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7866&lon=-79.7826&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125620
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA071
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA071

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1239   81/5/7    CADES,SC            MOONEY M20J         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 32, 180
        TIME - 1223                    N201YX              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 50 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CLIFF J.EVANS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          MELBOURNE,FL                LINDEN,NJ                    RALIEGH,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - PARTIAL BRIEFING BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE/RADIO, LIMITED BY PILOT ACTION
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       55
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           50                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTS TO 21KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N201YX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201YX-2013-02-01), registration cancelled 2013-02-01, S/N 24-0531, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Cliff J.Evans

## 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 19810507022529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810507022529A), May 7, 1981: Mooney M20J, Cades, SC, Destroyed. Student pilot flew VFR into adverse weather, severe turbulence and thunderstorms. Lost control of airplane.

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.

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