# NTSB CHI69D0180: Mooney M20C, N3441X, Mears, MI, August 3, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 3, 1968
- Place: Mears, MI · MEARS, MI
- Location: 43.6835° N, 86.4222° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mears, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6835&lon=-86.4222&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 14, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 108783
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI69D0180
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69D0180

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2678   68/8/3    MEARS,MICH          MOONEY M20C         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 109
        TIME - 1210                    N3441X              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 61 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     210
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- LEFT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 60 DEG 10-15 KNOTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3441X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3441X-1970-12-31), registration cancelled 1970-12-31, S/N 3405 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Silver Lake

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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