# NTSB CHI81FA091: Mooney M20J, N1098Y, La Pointe, WI, August 20, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 20, 1981
- Place: La Pointe, WI · LA POINTE, WI
- Location: 46.7791° N, 90.7866° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of La Pointe, WI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7791&lon=-90.7866&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 21, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124034
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FA091
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA091

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2816  81/8/20  NR.LA POINTE,WI       MOONEY M20J         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 980
        TIME - 2210                    N1098Y              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 16 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MADELINE ISLAND
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MINNEAPOLIS,MN             LA POINTE,WI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    15000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          GROUND FOG                                                71
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- CRASHED NR ARPT DRG TURN TWD LAKE W GLASSY WTR.BRIGHT NGT,FOG IN LOW AREAS.PLND LOW PASS OVR HOME.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1098Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1098Y-1993-09-22), registration cancelled 1993-09-22, S/N 241136 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Madeline Island

## 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 19810820051019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810820051019A), Aug 20, 1981: Mooney M20J, La Pointe, WI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft crashed at night during approach to airport. The pilot was known to fly low over home upon arrival.

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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