# NTSB DEN89FA007: Mooney M20E, N5997Q, Walsh, CO, October 5, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 5, 1988, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Walsh, CO
- Coordinates: 37.380458, -102.280479 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3805&lon=-102.2805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17563
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17563/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA007

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THERE IS NO RECORD PLT OBTAINED WX BRIEFING, FILED FLT PLAN, OR OBTAINED IN-FLT WX ADVISORIES. PLT AND TWO PAX DEPARTED SAN MARCOS, TX, AT 1400 CDT IN VMC, ENROUTE TO SPRINGFIELD, CO. ACFT WAS SEEN BY TWO WITNESSES AT APRX 1630 MDT, 11 MI W OF WALSH, CO, FLYING WESTERLY AT LOW ALT. WX WAS IMC WITH DRIZZLE AND THICK FOG. ACFT CRASHED 5 MI W OF WALSH, OR 20 MI ESE OF DESTINATION. PLT WAS NOT IFR RATED AND MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED. PLT REPORTEDLY DID NOT KEEP LOGBOOK AND BFR DATA COULD NOT BE DOCUMENTED. ACFT WAS OUT OF ANNUAL, WAS NOT IFR-CERTIFIED, AND ELT BATTERY HAD EXPIRED. PLT TOLD SISTER HE HAD TO RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD THAT DAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5997Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 757
- Airframe hours: 3234
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Doyle, A.C.
- Registered owner: Dick Doyle
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 1986, 170 hours before
- Departed: T98, SAN MARCOS, TX
- Destination: 8V7, SPRINGFIELD, CO
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,050 total, 25 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft

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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