# NTSB DEN67A0025: Mooney M20C, N6777U, Rye, CO, September 24, 1966

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 24, 1966
- Place: Rye, CO · RYE, CO
- Location: 37.9213° N, 104.9319° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rye, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9213&lon=-104.9319&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 11, 1967
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 121501
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN67A0025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN67A0025

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0812  66/9/24    RYE COLO            MOONEY M20C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 24, 132
        TIME - 0700                    N6777U              PX-  1  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 52 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        REMARKS- PURPOSE OF FLIGHT WAS TO VIEW FALL COLORS OF ASPEN TREES.FLIGHT CONDUCTED BELOW MOUNTAIN RIDGELINE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6777U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6777U), registered now, S/N 2499, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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