# NTSB DEN77FA039: Mooney M20C, N9685M, Silver Plume, CO, May 1, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 1, 1977
- Place: Silver Plume, CO · SILVER PLUME, CO
- Location: 39.6954° N, 105.7270° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Silver Plume, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6954&lon=-105.7270&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 152424
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN77FA039
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN77FA039

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0866   77/5/1  NR.SILVER PLUME,CO    MOONEY M20C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 649
        TIME - 1100                    N9685M              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 81 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BOULDER,CO                  SANTA MONICA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
        REMARKS- AUTOPSY REVEALED MILD ENCEPHALITIS IN BRAIN TISSUE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9685M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9685M-1977-07-25), registration cancelled 1977-07-25, S/N 670021, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19770501012139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770501012139A), May 1, 1977: Mooney M20C, Silver Plume, CO, Destroyed. Autopsy revealed mild encephalitis in brain tissue.

## Other investigations on N9685M (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI68D0305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68D0305), Sep 5, 1967: Mooney 20C (N9685M), Park Falls, WI, substantial damage

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.