# NTSB CHI87FA070: Mooney M20J, N11665, Waskish, MN, February 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 8, 1987, 15:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: Waskish, MN
- Coordinates: 48.159725, -94.50975 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1597&lon=-94.5097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13630
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87FA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13630/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87FA070

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - flight advisories - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snow covered

## Analysis

DURING THE PREFLIGHT WX BRIEFING THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. SHORTLY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING OVER A STATE HIGHWAY UNDER A LOW OVERCAST IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE ACFT WAS WITNESSED TO FLY OUT OF A WHITEOUT IN A DESCENDING RIGHT TURN AND IMPACT ON THE FROZEN SURFACE OF A LAKE. A REVIEW OF THE PLTS LOGBOOKS INDICATED HE HAD LOGGED ONE HALF HOUR OF INSTRUMENT FLT IN THE LAST 10 YRS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N11665 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1355
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Flying Scotchman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 24, 1986
- Departed: BDE, BAUDETTE, MN
- Destination: M1C, MINNEAPOLIS, MN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,031 total, 4 in this make and model, 857 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BJI, 42 nm away

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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