# NTSB DEN85FA014: Mooney M20C, N558BQ, Cheyenne, WY, October 20, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 19, 1984, 21:25 local (Oct 20, 1984, 03:25 UTC)
- Place: Cheyenne, WY
- Coordinates: 41.139476, -104.790008 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1395&lon=-104.7900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16508
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16508/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA014

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - obscuration
  - weather condition - snow
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field
  - terrain condition - snow covered

## Analysis

THE A/C WITH A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT AT THE CONTROLS, DEPARTED THE CHEYENNE, WY AIRPORT AT NIGHT IN LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER HE CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD NORTH OF CHEYENE IMPACT FORCES AND A POST ACC FIRE DEST THE A/C. EVIDENCE INDICATED MINUTES THE A/C WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY UNTIL GRD IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N558BQ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N558BQ-1985-08-23), registration cancelled 1985-08-23, S/N 2980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2980
- Airframe hours: 29256
- Engines: AVCO LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John H. Baird
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1984, 216 hours before
- Departed: CYS, CHEYENNE, WY
- Destination: CPT, CASPER, WY
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 19,429 total, 203 in this make and model, 1,286 as pilot in command, 357 in the last 90 days, 203 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CYS, 5 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 19841019057329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841019057329A), Oct 19, 1984: Mooney M20C, Cheyenne, WY, Destroyed. Collided with ground after special VFR takeoff at night. Pilot not instrument rated flew into snowshowers.

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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