# NTSB DEN85FA097: Mooney M20F, N7414V, Deming, NM, March 15, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 15, 1985, 12:46 local (19:46 UTC)
- Place: Deming, NM
- Coordinates: 32.259464, -107.750541 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2595&lon=-107.7505&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): 16530
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16530/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA097

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING PREFLT & INFLT WX BRIEFINGS, THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT MOUNTAINS ALONG HIS ROUTE WERE OBSCURED BY CLOUDS & PRECIP.ALSO, HE WAS CAUTIONED ABOUT MODERATE ICING IN CLOUDS & PRECIP AT OR ABOVE THE FREEZING LVL. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT OBTAINED CLEARANCE TO DETOUR AROUND CLOUDS. HE THEN REQUESTED A DESCENT TO GET OUT OF CLOUDS BECAUSE THE ACFT WAS PICKING UP RAIN & LIGHT ICE. HE WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND TO THE MIN EN ROUTE ALT (MEA) OF 9000 FT. A SHORT TIME LATER, RADAR & RADIO CONTACT WERE LOST. LATER, THE ACFT WAS FND WHERE IT IMPACTED THE SLOPE OF A HILL ON OPEN DESERT TERRAIN WHILE IN A STEEP, NOSE DOWN, RIGHT WING LOW, ATTITUDE. IMPACT OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED ON A NORTHERLY HEADING. THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE RECORDS, THE LAST PITOT-STATIC SYS, SENSITIVE ALTIMETER & TRANSPONDER CHECKS WERE PERFORMED ON 6/3/83, & THE LAST VOR CHECK WAS ON 1/6/78.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7414V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7414V-1985-06-04), registration cancelled 1985-06-04, S/N 22-1207 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-1207
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Carlton R. Harrison
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 17, 1984
- Departed: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Destination: ELP, EL PASO, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DMN, Deming

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,441 total, 41 in this make and model, 3,277 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DMN, 18 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 19850315007389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850315007389A), Mar 15, 1985: Mooney M20F, Deming, NM, Destroyed. Pilot was descending to lower altitude due to icing. Lost control. Altimeter not IFR certified. Icing forecast.

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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