# NTSB FTW79FRG15: Mooney M20K, N231FR, San Antonio, TX, January 30, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: January 30, 1979
- Place: San Antonio, TX · SAN ANTONIO, TX
- Location: 29.4241° N, 98.4936° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Antonio, TX, within about 13 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4241&lon=-98.4936&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137556
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FRG15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FRG15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0531  79/1/30    SAN ANTONIO,TX      MOONEY M20K         CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 41, 5000
        TIME - 1010                    N231FR              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 1000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SAN ANTONIO INT'L
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN ANTONIO,TX              EL PASO,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: ELEVATOR AND ELEVATOR TAB CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISCONNECTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  PITCH CONTROL PROBLEM
        REMARKS- ELEVATOR CONTROL INPUT TUBE,P/N 915038501,NOT CONNECTED TO IDLER BELL CRANK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231FR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231FR-2014-09-16), registration cancelled 2014-09-16, S/N 25-0032, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: San Antonio Int'L

## 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 19790130001909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790130001909A), Jan 30, 1979: Mooney M20K, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot picked up this aircraft new at factory. Elevator not connected to control wheel, crashed on landing.

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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