# NTSB FTW84FA068: Mooney M20J, N201TH, El Paso, TX, November 22, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 21, 1983, 18:14 local (Nov 22, 1983, 01:14 UTC)
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Location: 31.7587° N, 106.4869° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Paso, TX, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7587&lon=-106.4869&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21086
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84FA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21086/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84FA068

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - hail (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AT 4380 FT MSL. THE PLT HAD CALLED THE CONTROL TOWER IN EL PASO AND ADVISED THAT HE WAS AT 8500 FT AND WOULD HAVE TO START DESCENDING DUE TO WEATHER IN THE AREA. THE PLT WAS VFR AND NO FLT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. HE WAS ADVISED OF GROUND ELEVATIONS IN THE AREA OF 4500 FT AND ADVISED TO REMAIN VFR. ABOUT 4 MINUTES LATER RADIOAND RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST AND A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED 3 HOURS LATER. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AT ABOUT A 25-30 DEGREE NOSE DOWN AND RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE WHILETRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. IT BOUNCED AND TRAVELED ABOUT 100 YARDS BEFORE 2ND IMPACT WHERE IT ROLLED INVERTED. ALTHOUGH THE PLT HAD ABOUT 1300 HOURS TOTAL FLYING TIME HE HAD ONLY FLOWN 7 HOURS IN THE LAST 9 YEARS. THE ACCIDENT ACFTHAD JUST BEEN BOUGHT BY THE 59 YEAR OLD PLT. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES PRIOR TO IMPACT. LOCAL RESIDENTS REPORTED LIGHT RAIN & SNOW FLURRIES IN THE AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N201TH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201TH-1993-03-05), registration cancelled 1993-03-05, S/N 240328 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-0328
- Airframe hours: 1005
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert B. Humphrey
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 1983, 154 hours before
- Departed: GLH, GREENVILLE, MS
- Destination: ELP, ELPASO, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,308 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 7 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELP, 32 nm away

## 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 19831121060809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831121060809A), Nov 21, 1983: Mooney M20J, El Paso, TX, Destroyed. Impact indicates loss of control of aircraft. Dark night, rain and snow in area. Lacked recent flight experience.

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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