# NTSB ATL84FA075: Mooney M20F, N7076V, Clemson, SC, December 25, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 24, 1983, 19:03 local (Dec 25, 1983, 00:03 UTC)
- Place: Clemson, SC
- Location: 34.7175° N, 82.8359° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ANDERSON RGNL (AND), within about 5 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7175&lon=-82.8359&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6243/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA075

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA ABOUT 15 MILES FROM ITS DESTINATION BUT ABOUT 16 MILES NORTH OF A STRAIGHT LINE BETWEEN GAINESVILLE, GA AND ANDERSON, SC. ONE WITNESS ABOUT 5 MILES FROM THE SITE SAW AN ACFT JUST BEFORE THE TIME OF THE CRASH FLYING AT ABOUT 1000 FT AGL WITH ITS LANDING LIGHT ON. THE LIGHT REMAINED ON ABOUT 30 SECOND THEN WENT OUT. THE ACFT WAS HEADING SOUTH & ITS ENGINE WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. IT IS NOT KNOWN IF THIS WAS THE ACCIDENT ACFT. THE ACFT CRASHED AT 1903 FIXED BY A VICTIMS STOPPED WRISTWATCH. THE ACFT WAS EXPECTED BY RELATIVES IN ANDERSON BY 1930. THE OCCUPANTS HAD GONE TO GAINESVILLE, GA TO PICK UP A CHRISTMAS PRESENT AND THE CRASH OCCURRED ON THE WAY BACK. ACCORDING TO RELATIVES THE PLT HAD FLOWN INTO ANDERSON MANY TIMES AT NIGHT. THE PLT CALLED ANDERSON FSS ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE CRASH ASKING FOR AN ARPT ADVISORY, THERE WAS NO HINT OF ANY PROBLEM AND NO FURTHER CALLS FROM THE ACFT. INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL A REASON FOR THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7076V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7076V-1984-05-16), registration cancelled 1984-05-16, S/N 22-1412 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-1412
- Airframe hours: 857
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gerald M. Paulus
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 17, 1983, 43 hours before
- Departed: GVL, GAINESVILLE, GA
- Destination: AND, ANDERSON, SC
- Airport: AND, Anderson County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 532 total, 28 in this make and model, 432 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 9 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Observed at: AND, 15 nm away

## 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 19831224064189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831224064189A), Dec 24, 1983: Mooney M20F, Clemson, SC, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Struck trees and the ground and burned. Was off course of planned route. No mechanical problems and a clear night.

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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