# NTSB CHI66A0080: Mooney MK 20C, N5647Q, Freeland, MI, March 31, 1966

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 31, 1966
- Place: Freeland, MI · FREELAND, MI
- Location: 43.5175° N, 84.1147° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Freeland, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5175&lon=-84.1147&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 13, 1967
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 172444
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI66A0080
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66A0080

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0407  66/3/31    FREELAND MICH       MOONEY MK 20C       CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 44, 376
        TIME - 2018                    N5647Q              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 203 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TRI-CITY
        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)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                            RAIN SHOWERS, SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      34
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 4/1/66.FSS USED DF STEERS IN ATTEMPT RETURN PILOT TO VOR STATION AND AIRPORT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5647Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5647Q-1968-05-12), registration cancelled 1968-05-12, S/N 3022, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY MK 20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Tri-City

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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