# NTSB DEN81FA010: Mooney MZ0K, N231GP, Grand Junction, CO, November 8, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 8, 1980
- Place: Grand Junction, CO · GRAND JUNCTION, CO
- Location: 39.0639° N, 108.5506° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grand Junction, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0639&lon=-108.5506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 5, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127890
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FA010
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA010

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3268   80/11/8 NR.GRAND JUNCTION,CO  MOONEY MZ0K         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 55, 265
        TIME - 2130                    N231GP              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 89 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WALKER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LONGBEACH,CA               GRAND JUNCTION,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231GP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231GP-2014-09-16), registration cancelled 2014-09-16, S/N 25-0245, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY MZ0K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Walker

## 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 19801108063719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801108063719A), Nov 8, 1980: Mooney M20K, Grand Junction, CO, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Investigation indicates pilot lost ground reference at night and crashed approaching airport for landing.

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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