# NTSB DEN82FA010: Mooney M-21, N9777M, La Veta, CO, November 24, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 24, 1981
- Place: La Veta, CO · LA VETA, CO
- Location: 37.5086° N, 105.0085° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of La Veta, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5086&lon=-105.0085&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 17, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 122722
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82FA010
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82FA010

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3613  81/11/24 NR.LA VETA,CO         MOONEY M-21         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 32, 367
        TIME - 2146                    N9777M              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHEYENNE,WY                 ALBUQUERQUE,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AREAS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      35
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          220                                                       60
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT RCVD WX BRIEFING THAT INCLUDED FORECAST STRONG WINDS WITH OCC SVR TURB.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9777M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9777M-1984-06-15), registration cancelled 1984-06-15, S/N 680194 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-21
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (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 19811124075119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811124075119A), Nov 24, 1981: Mooney M20F, Laveta, CO, Destroyed. Encountered severe prolonged downdraft. Declared emergency prior to crashing into trees on mountainside.

## Other investigations on N9777M (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 DEN73DTC16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73DTC16), Jan 2, 1973: Mooney M20F (N9777M), Sheridan, WY, 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.

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