# NTSB DEN83FA221: Mooney M20F, Salt Lake City, UT, September 24, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: September 24, 1983, 13:11 UTC, 07:11 local
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Coordinates: 40.809226, -111.940116 (estimated)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16003
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA221
- NTSB report (PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16003/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA221

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. A WITNESS NOTICED THE ACFT IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE AT LOW ALT AND SLOW AIRSPEED. HE SAID THE PLANE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS SHIFTING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE LEFT WING DIPPED. THE ACFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND DIVED TO THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION FOUND NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY EXCEPT THAT THE BAGGAGE DOOR LOCKING PINS WERE UNLATCHED. THE LATCHING MECHANISM WAS CAPABLE OF OPERATION. THERE WERE NO RADIO CALLS TO INDICATE TROUBLE. HOWEVER THE PLT DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OR COMPLY WITH THE TOWER CALL AFTER TAKEOFF TO TURN RIGHTCONTACT DEPARTURE. THE ACFT CRASHED ONE MINUTE LATER.

## Sequence of events

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - door,cargo/baggage - loose (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9464V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 700039
- Airframe hours: 1302
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Destination: LHU, LAKE HAVASU, AZ
- Airport: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY INTL, runway 34R
- FAA reports: 19830924050799A (https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830924050799A) (OpenAirDocs)

## Flight crew

- Pilot; age 58; private; medical class 3; hours: 4 30 days, 10 90 days, 2 90 days in this make and model, 794 total, 159 total in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility (statute miles): 30
- Temperature (°F): 59

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.