# NTSB DEN87FA008: Mooney M20B, N74739, Buffalo, WY, October 23, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 22, 1986, 21:00 local (Oct 23, 1986, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Buffalo, WY
- Coordinates: 44.339275, -106.709373 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3393&lon=-106.7094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17077
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17077/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA008

## 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
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
  - comm/nav equipment - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - wing - ice (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,ram air/induction air - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - carburetor heat - attempted, pilot in command
  - carburetor heat control,cable/push-pull rod - failure,total (cause)
  - carburetor heat - not possible
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT APRX 1720 MDT, TOWER PSNL AT THE DEP ARPT RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE PLT. HE SAID HE WISHED TO DEPART WITH AN INOP 2-WAY RADIO. HE WAS ADVISED THAT IMC PREVAILED & THAT A RADIO WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DEPART WITH AN IFR OR SPECIAL VFR CLNC. AT 1907 (AFTER OBTAINING A PORTABLE 2-WAY RADIO) THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT REQUESTED & RECEIVED CLNC FOR A SPECIAL VFR DEPARTURE. HE TOOK OFF WITH A PAX ABOARD, & AT 1917, RPRTD CLEAR OF THE CONTROL ZONE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN MTNS AT AN ELEV OF ABOUT 9500'. INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH TREES ON RISING TERRAIN AS THE ACFT WAS IN WINGSLVL FLT. THE SURVIVING PAX RPRTD ICE ON THE WINGS & SAID THE ENG WAS RUNNING ROUGH. ALSO, HE SAID THEY WERE FLYING IN SNOW, & WHEN THE PLT PULLED THE CARB HEAT CTL, IT CAME OUT IN HIS HAND; THE CABLE WAS FND BROKEN NR THE BUTTERFLY VLV & ICE & SNOW WERE FND IN THE CARB AIR INTAKE OPENING. CHECKS OF THE PLT'S BLOOD & URINE SHOWED ALCOHOL LVLS OF 0.031% & 0.034%, RESPECTIVELY. COCAINE, METHYL ECGONINE & METHAMPHETAMINE WERE DETECTED IN HIS URINE, BUT NONE FND IN HIS BLOOD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74739](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74739-2014-11-17), registration cancelled 2014-11-17, S/N 1739, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20B
- Registry model: [Mooney M20B](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20b) (registry code 5870206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1739
- Airframe hours: 2192
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Terrence J. Schrapps
- Registered owner: T.J. Stroppel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GCC, GILLETTE, WY
- Destination: BIL, BILLINGS, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,090 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark

## 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 19861022049989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861022049989A), Oct 22, 1986: Mooney M20B, Buffalo, WY, Destroyed. The engine failed from ice blockage and the aircraft struck terrain. VFR pilot in IFR conditions. Cocaine and beer.

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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