# NTSB DEN84FA107: Mooney M20K, N231F, Craig, CO, March 10, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1984, 08:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place: Craig, CO
- Coordinates: 40.520992, -107.549537 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5210&lon=-107.5495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16203
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16203/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA107

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WITNESSES OBSERVED & HEARD THE PLT MAKING AN APCH & SUBSEQUENT GO-AROUND OR PASS OVER THE GROUND AT THE ARPT. HEAVY FOG CONDITIONS EXISTED WHICH WERE BELOW IFR MINIMUMS. THE PLT FAILED TO REALIZE HIGHER TERRAIN EXSISTED NORTH OF THE ARPT. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE HIGHER SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. POST CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT FLT CONTROLS, STRUCTURE OR ENG PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231F-2013-06-04), registration cancelled 2013-06-04, S/N 25-0182, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Mooney M20K
- 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
- Serial number: 250182
- Airframe hours: 542
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-GB1 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Terry Lee Killion
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 1983, 45 hours before
- Departed: BJC, BROOMFIELD, CO
- Destination: CAG, CRAIG, CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CAG, Craig Moffat, runway 7, 5,600 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 802 total, 67 in this make and model, 740 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 2 knots
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: NWS, 4 nm away

## 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 19840310005339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840310005339A), Mar 10, 1984: Mooney M20K, Craig, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck rising terrain on a go around in near zero IMC. Was using a VOR radio to find airport. Was aware of weather.

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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