# NTSB FTW72AF032: Mooney M21, N5603Q, Encino, TX, December 8, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 8, 1971
- Place: Encino, TX · ENCINO, TX
- Location: 26.9363° N, 98.1153° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Encino, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9363&lon=-98.1153&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164848
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW72AF032
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72AF032

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4244   71/12/8   ENCINO,TEX          MOONEY M21          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 63, 2500
        TIME - 0245                    N5603Q              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 60 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CORPUS CRISTI,TEX           MCALLEN,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           TERRAIN - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      70
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          110                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- RCVRY DATE 12/8/71. NIGHT,KNOWN LOW CEILINGS,VERY SPARSELY POPULATED AREA.DSNDD WINGS LVL ATTITUDE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5603Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5603Q-1972-01-20), registration cancelled 1972-01-20, S/N 3000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M21
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.