# NTSB DEN87LA053: Mooney M20C, N3451X, Eureka, SD, February 11, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 10, 1987, 20:00 local (Feb 11, 1987, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Eureka, SD
- Coordinates: 45.759086, -99.619621 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7591&lon=-99.6196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17168
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17168/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA053

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - proper climb rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER NORMAL TAKEOFF, THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN THEN CONTINUED ON UNTIL IT CAME TO REST APRX 350' FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. THE LANDING GEAR HAD BEEN RETRACTED AT THE TIME OF INITIAL IMPACT AND THE PLT HAD NO INDICATION OF ANY MALFUNCTION/FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3451X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3451X-1989-03-14), registration cancelled 1989-03-14, S/N 3409 (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: 3409
- Airframe hours: 2658
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard S. Isaak
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 25, 1986, 66 hours before
- Destination: MBG, MOBRIDGE, SD

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,658 total, 221 in this make and model, 2,658 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MBG, 43 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 19870210060679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870210060679A), Feb 10, 1987: Mooney M20C, Eureka, SD, Substantial damage. The aircraft impacted a golf course shortly after a night takeoff. Suspect the pilot was spatially disoriented.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.