# NTSB DEN88FA115: Mooney M20, N5279B, Jamestown, CO, May 28, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1988, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Jamestown, CO
- Coordinates: 40.109756, -105.389999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1098&lon=-105.3900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17372
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17372/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA115

## Analysis

THE PLT TOLD A FRIEND THAT HE WAS GOING TO CONDUCT A SIGHTSEEING FLT IN THE LOCAL AREA. RESIDENTS OF A SMALL TOWN 2 MILES FROM THE ACDT SITE SAID THE ACFT CIRCLED THE TOWN AT LOW ALT SEVERAL TIMES AT ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACDT. THE SAR SATELITE PICKED UP THE ELT SIG AT 2125 AND THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND BY A GROUND PARTY DURING THE NIGHT, AT 0150. A GLIDER PLT, WHO FLEW THRU THE AREA AT ABOUT THE TIME THE WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT, ALSO SAW AN ACFT MANEUVERING AT LOW ALT NEAR THE TOWN. HE SAID THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS 70 TO 75 DEG F AND THERE WERE DOWNDRAFTS, 500 TO 1,000 FPM IN THE AREA. THE DENSITY ALT AT THE ACDT SITE WAS CALCULATED TO BE ABOUT 11,000 FT AND THERE WERE 3 PERSONS ON BOARD THE ACFT. THE TERRAIN AT THE ACDT SITE IS ROUGH AND MOUNTAINOUS WITH SHARPLY RISING TERRAIN TO THE N,W, AND S. FOUR 5 GAL DRUMS WERE FOUND AT THE ACDT SITE AND A PLACARD FOR AUTO FUEL WAS FOUND ON THE PANEL. NO STC WAS ISSUED FOR THIS ACFT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5279B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5279B-2013-04-08), registration cancelled 2013-04-08, S/N 1142, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20
- Registry model: [Mooney M20](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20) (registry code 5870202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1142
- Airframe hours: 2970
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Brown, Rory Lee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 1988, 25 hours before
- Departed: 1V5, BOULDER, CO
- Destination: IV5

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 776 total, 715 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BJC, 18 nm away

## Other investigations on N5279B (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI66F0629](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0629), Mar 20, 1966: Mooney M20 (N5279B), Indianapolis, IN, substantial damage

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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