# NTSB DEN74DQA13: Mcdonald S-20, N106AB, Moriarty, NM, August 9, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 9, 1973
- Place: Moriarty, NM · MORIARTY, NM
- Location: 35.0034° N, 106.0444° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Moriarty, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0034&lon=-106.0444&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 189112
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN74DQA13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74DQA13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2544   73/8/9    MORIARTY,N MEX      MCDONALD S-20       CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 531
        TIME - 1345                    N106AB              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 30 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MORIARITY MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED         VALLEJO,CALIF                MORIARTY,N MEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                      90
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           5                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- UN TO SUSTAIN FLT DUE TO DNDRAFT.RW IN AREA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N106AB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N106AB-2026-09-09), registration cancelled 2026-09-09, S/N 1, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONALD S-20
- Registry model: [Macdonald S-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/macdonald-s-20) (registry code 0562162) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Moriarity Muni

## 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 19730809021069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730809021069A), Aug 9, 1973: Amtr 0562141, Moriarty, NM, Substantial damage. Un to sustain flt due to dndraft. Rw in area.

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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