# NTSB FTW79DA008: Mooney M18LA, N4086, Wilson, TX, October 29, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 29, 1978
- Place: Wilson, TX · WILSON, TX
- Location: 33.3193° N, 101.7275° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wilson, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3193&lon=-101.7275&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139161
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79DA008
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79DA008

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3527  78/10/29 NR.WILSON,TX          MOONEY M18LA        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1635                    N4086               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 22, 566 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            2 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LUBBOCK,TX                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: VERTICAL STABILIZER,ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DETERIORATED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- ACROBATICS NOT AUTHORIZED.WOOD STRUCTURE DETERIORATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4086](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4086-2013-08-14), registration cancelled 2013-08-14, S/N 123, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M18LA
- Registry model: [Mooney M-18LA](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m-18la) (registry code 5870108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-145B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (registry code 41502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19781029039099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781029039099A), Oct 29, 1978: Mnmite M18C, Wilson, TX, Destroyed. Acrobatics not authorized. Wood structure deteriorated.

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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