# NTSB CHI82DA218: Mooney M20J, N201EC, Duluth, MN, June 20, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: June 19, 1982, 23:59 local (Jun 20, 1982, 04:59 UTC)
- Place: Duluth, MN
- Location: 46.7833° N, 92.1066° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Duluth, MN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7833&lon=-92.1066&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 19, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70519
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82DA218
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70519/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DA218

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - preflight briefing service - improper, atc personnel(fss)
  - weather forecast - inaccurate, nws personnel (contributing factor)
  - fss service - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather observation - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - atc clearance - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - approach aids,ils glide slope - not operating (contributing factor)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - meteorological services,atis - inaccurate

## Analysis

PLT WX BRIEFED AT 2148 BY KENORA FSS, ONTARIO, CANADA. AREA & TERMINAL FORECASTS INDICATED VFR CONDS TO EXIST AT DULUTH.SUBSEQUENTLY, AT 2151, DULUTH ARPT NOTAMED CLOSED, ALL RWY & APPROACH LITES OUT. THE ILS RWY 9 G/S LATER WENT OUT OF SERVICE, BUT NOT NOTAMED SINCE ARPT ALREADY NOTAMED CLOSED. PLT LANDED AT INT'L FALLS TO CLEAR CUSTOMS. NO RECORD OF TELCON TO HIBBINGS FSS FOR WX UPDATE. DEPARTED INT'L FALLS & ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT HIBBINGS FSS BY RADIO AT 2305 BUT NO RADIO CONTACT ESTABLISHED. THERE WERE NO FURTHER RADIO CONTACTS WITH FSS. 30 MI FROM DULUTH PLT UNABLE TO RECEIVE DULUTHATIS. PLY UNAWARE OF DETERIORATED WX CONDITIONS & ILS RWY 9 G/S NOT OPERATING. ACFT CRASHED 500 FT NW OF ILS RWY 9 MM. ATIS WAS RECORDED AT 1942, TOWER CLOSED AT 2000. ATIS BROADCASTED CONTINUOUSLY THROUGHOUT NIGHT WITH 1942 INORMATION & WITH NO UPDATE OF ARPT BEING CLOSED & REOPENED, NAVAIDS BEING DOWN & UP, OR SIGNIFICANT WX CHANGES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N201EC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N201EC), registered now, S/N 24-0635, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-0111
- Airframe hours: 1290
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kenwood Park Corporation
- Registered owner: Kenwood Park Corporation
- Departed: INTERNATIONAL F, MN
- Destination: DLH, DULUTH, MN
- Airport: runway 9, 10,154 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,545 total, 901 in this make and model, 1,440 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 90° at 7 knots
- Temperature: 122 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DLH, 2 nm away

## 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 19820619026889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820619026889A), Jun 19, 1982: Mooney M20J, Duluth, MN, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed during ILS approach short of runway. Pilot received incorrect weather information.

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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