# NTSB FTW69A0040: Mooney M20, N7897V, Fort Mckavett, TX, December 8, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 8, 1968
- Place: Fort Mckavett, TX · FORT MCKAVETT, TX
- Location: 30.8271° N, 100.1067° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort McKavett, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8271&lon=-100.1067&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 5, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 107393
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW69A0040
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69A0040

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4275   68/12/8   FORT MCKAVETT,TEX   MOONEY M20          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 2500
        TIME - 2212                    N7897V              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CB RANCH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          HAZE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- NOT INST RATED PLT BECAME DISORIENTED AFTER T/O.NO DISTINCT HORIZON.BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL 145 MG PCT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7897V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7897V-1971-02-10), registration cancelled 1971-02-10, S/N 2859, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Cb Ranch

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.