# NTSB DEN78FA003: Mooney M20C, N5581Q, Sheridan, WY, October 4, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 4, 1977
- Place: Sheridan, WY · SHERIDAN, WY
- Location: 44.7962° N, 106.9642° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sheridan, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7962&lon=-106.9642&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144635
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FA003
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FA003

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3689   77/10/4   SHERIDAN,WY         MOONEY M20C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, UNK/NR
        TIME - 0900                    N5581Q              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SHERIDAN COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SHERIDAN,WY                 ST.LOUIS,MO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       40
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
            1                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 10/08/77.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5581Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5581Q-1978-02-02), registration cancelled 1978-02-02, S/N 2979 (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
- Airport: Sheridan County

## 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 19771004038949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771004038949A), Oct 4, 1977: Mooney M20C, Sheridan, WY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Recovery date 10/08/77.

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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