# NTSB DEN81FA023: Mooney M20G, N6844N, Ryegate, MT, March 21, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 21, 1981
- Place: Ryegate, MT · RYEGATE, MT
- Location: 46.2984° N, 109.2537° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ryegate, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2984&lon=-109.2537&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 14, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126588
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FA023
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA023

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1456  81/3/21  NR.RYEGATE,MT         MOONEY M20G         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 9200
        TIME - 0940                    N6844N              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BILLINGS,MT                 MISSOULA,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - EXHAUST SYSTEM: MUFFLERS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POOR WELD
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CORRODED/CORROSION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INCAPACITATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
        REMARKS- 29% CO SATURATION IN BLOOD CONTAINING A HEMOGLOBIN OF 14.5 GM%.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6844N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6844N-1983-01-25), registration cancelled 1983-01-25, S/N 680115 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20G
- Registry model: [Mooney M-20G](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m-20g) (registry code 5870216) (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 19810321011379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810321011379A), Mar 21, 1981: Mooney M20G, Ryegate, MT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot heavy smoker. Leaky heat/muffler, high level of carbon monoxide in pilot's blood. Uncontrolled ground impact.

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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