# NTSB CHI71AC078: Mooney M20C, N3427X, Muncie, IN, April 18, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 18, 1971
- Place: Muncie, IN · MUNCIE, IN
- Location: 40.1988° N, 85.3951° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Muncie, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1988&lon=-85.3951&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 14, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 161350
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI71AC078
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71AC078

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3983  71/4/18    MUNCIE,IND          MOONEY M20C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 55, 141
        TIME - 0632                    N3427X              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 72 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DELAWARE COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          MUNCIE,IND                  FT.LAUDERDALE,FLA            COLUMBUS,GA
        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 - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                       70
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           16                                                      BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- DEP WX DESCRIBED AS POOR WITH DIST LGTS OBSCD ACFT HEARD BUT NOT VIS.IMPACT OCRD 8500FT BEYOND RWY
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3427X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3427X-1971-06-16), registration cancelled 1971-06-16, S/N 3400 (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: Destroyed
- Airport: Delaware County

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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