# NTSB FTW84LA341: Mooney M20, N3594H, Thibodaux, LA, August 6, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1984, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Thibodaux, LA
- Coordinates: 29.790954, -90.820098 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7910&lon=-90.8201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21422
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA341
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21422/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA341

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - lightning (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - flight/nav instruments - other
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT 0729 CDT THE PLT FILED A FLIGHT PLAN AND OBTAINED A WX BRIEF FORECASTING MOIST UNSTABLE AIR WITH SEVERAL SCATTERED AND BROKEN CLOUD LAYERS BEGINNING AT 1,500 FT. THE BRIEFER FURTHER ADVISED THE PLT OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ALONG THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. AT 0855, THE ACFT DEPARTED AND CLIMBED TO 8,000 FT. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, ABOUT 1/2 HR INTO THE FLIGHT A 'HEAVY LAYER OF CLOUDS' WERE SEEN AHEAD, AT AND BELOW HIS CRUISING ACT. A DESCENT TO 4,000 FT WAS REQUESTED AND GRANTED BY ARTCC. AT0926 THE PLT ASKED LAFAYETTE APCH CONTROL WHICH WAY THE WX WAS MOVING AND THAT THEY WERE IN SOME 'ROUGH STUFF'. FOR APRX THE NEXT 23 MIN THE ACFT REPEATEDLY ENCOUNTERED AREAS OF TURBULENCE VIOLENT ENOUGH TO CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL AIRFRAME DAMAGE AND RENDER SOME OF THE FLT INSTRUMENTS INOP. THE ACFT WAS VECTORED OUT OF THE WX AND TO AN ALTERNATE ARPT. AT 0957 A WX ADVISORY WAS ISSUED WHICH WARNED OF A LINE OF LEVEL 3 TO 5 THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE ACFT'S ROUTE. HOWEVER, THE PLT TOOK OF AT 0900 & WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ADVISORY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3594H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3594H), registered now, S/N 25-0428, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20
- 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
- Serial number: 25-0428
- Airframe hours: 439
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-GB 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Frank E Augustine
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: NEW
- Destination: SPX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 567 total, 66 in this make and model, 893 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HUM

## 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 19840806037679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840806037679A), Aug 6, 1984: Mooney M20K, Thibodeaux, LA, Substantial damage. Encountered severe turbulence enroute. Landed safely. Wings damaged. Weather advisory not relayed by center.

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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