# NTSB CHI84FA179: Mooney M20J, N3833H, Highland Hgts, OH, May 8, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 8, 1984, 07:33 local (11:33 UTC)
- Place: Highland Hgts, OH
- Coordinates: 41.549587, -81.480789 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5496&lon=-81.4808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12396
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84FA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12396/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84FA179

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

TWO MINS AFTER TAKEOFF, ACFT IMPACTED TERRAIN LEFT WING DOWN, MEASURED 63 DEGREES NOSE DOWN, WELL LEFT OF DESIGNATED DEPARTURE COURSE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE IN THE ACFT STRUCTURE, POWER PLANT OR SYSTEMS. PLT'S ACTUAL INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, BOTH TOTAL AND RECENT, COULD NOT DETERMINED FROM LOG BOOK SINCE PLT HAD USED INSTRUMENT DATA BLOCKS TO LOG CROSS-COUNTRY TIME. LAST VALID ENTRY FOR INSTRUMENT TIME SHOWED 3.4 HRS ACTUAL/24.9 HRS SIMULATED AS OF 10/10/81.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3833H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-0957
- Airframe hours: 1502
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: T & G Flying Club
- Registered owner: Blue Hill Air
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 3, 1984, 87 hours before
- Departed: CGF, CLEVELAND, OH
- Destination: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 270 total, 16 in this make and model, 172 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft
- Temperature: 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CGF, 1 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 19840508016069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840508016069A), May 8, 1984: Mooney M20J, Highland Height, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Took off on IFR flight into low clouds and visibility. Descended out of clouds in a spin. IFR recency questionable.

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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