# NTSB CHI77FA033: Mooney M20E, N1947Y, St Charles, IL, March 3, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 3, 1977
- Place: St Charles, IL · ST CHARLES, IL
- Location: 41.9194° N, 88.3107° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Charles, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9194&lon=-88.3107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79951
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI77FA033
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FA033

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1891   77/3/3    ST CHARLES,IL       MOONEY M20E         CR-  2  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 28, 665
        TIME - 2220                    N1947Y              PX-  2  0  0  CTR PASSG-D               TOTAL HOURS, 64 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DUPAGE COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EAST ST. LOUIS,IL           ST CHARLES,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT FACILITIES: INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT FACILITIES: APPROACH LIGHTING
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT FACILITIES: RUNWAY LIGHTING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       41
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          140                                                       9
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- FLT ADVSD OF GS PRBLM AFTER FIRST MSD APP TWR CLSD AND RAIL AND REIL TND OFF DRG SCND APP
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1947Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1947Y-1977-12-28), registration cancelled 1977-12-28, S/N 254, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Dupage County

## 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 19770303033879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770303033879A), Mar 3, 1977: Mooney M20E, St Charles, IL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flt advsd of gs prblm after first msd app twr clsd and rail and REIL tnd off drg scnd app

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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