# NTSB FTW78DQG21: Mooney M20, N201DC, Big Spring, TX, March 12, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 12, 1978
- Place: Big Spring, TX · BIG SPRING, TX
- Location: 32.2383° N, 101.4857° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Big Spring, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2383&lon=-101.4857&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 1, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143225
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78DQG21
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78DQG21

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0496  78/3/12    BIG SPRING,TX       MOONEY M20          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 789
        TIME - 1420                    N201DC              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 124 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HOWARD COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DEL RIO,TX                  BIG SPRING,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: ROLL
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED IN INITIATING GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     HEAD WIND 338-022 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           69                                                      160
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           40                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTING TO 55KTS.PLT BRIEFED BY WX PERSONNEL TO EXPECT HIGH SURFACE WINDS AND DUST.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N201DC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N201DC), registered now, S/N 24-3103 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Howard County

## 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 19780312005679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780312005679A), Mar 12, 1978: Mooney M20D, Big Spring, TX, Substantial damage. Wind gusting to 55KTS.plt briefed by wx personnel to expect high surace winds and dust.

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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