# NTSB FTW85LA344: Mooney M20J, N4793H, Kraemer, LA, September 10, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 9, 1985, 22:05 local (Sep 10, 1985, 03:05 UTC)
- Place: Kraemer, LA
- Location: 29.8592° N, 90.6256° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kraemer, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8592&lon=-90.6256&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): 21845
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA344
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21845/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA344

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (cause)
  - in flight weather avoidance assistance - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (cause)
  - weather condition - rain (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - normal
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - pull-up - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACFT WAS DESCENDING FROM CRUISE ALT WHEN IT ENTERED A RADAR  LVL 3 THUNDERSTORM AND CONTROL WAS LOST DURING A NIGHT VFR FLT. THE ACFT IMPACTED A SWAMP IN A VERTICAL ATTITUDE WITH THE RT WING LEADING SLIGHTLY. THE LFT WING WAS FOUND ABOUT 10' SOUTH OF THE MAIN CRATER INDICATING THAT THE ACFT WAS INTACT AT IMPACT. THE PLT HAD A STORM SCOPE INSTALLED THAT MORNING AND HAD RECEIVED A CHECKOUT ON ITS OPERATION PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. NEW ORLEANS TRACON HAD ADVISED THE PLT OF THE PRESENCE OF THE CELL ALONG HIS FLT PATH, BUT HE DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. RECORDED RADAR DATA INDICATED THAT THE ACFT WAS IN A NORMAL DESCENT PROFILE WHEN CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE ACFT ENTERED A VERT DESCENT. THE RADAR LVL 3 CELL WAS PROBABLY ACCOMPANIED BY AT LEAST MODERATE RAIN SHOWERS AND TURB. THE PLT HAD RECEIVED BRIEFINGS FROM BOTH FSS AND NWS AND WAS AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4793H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-0883
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Earl D. Boyce
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BPT, BEAUMONT, TX
- Destination: NEW, NEW ORLEANS, LA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,000 total, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSY, 17 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 19850909043959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850909043959A), Sep 9, 1985: Mooney M20J, Kraemer, LA, Destroyed. Pilot continued flight into area of thunderstorms. Lost control and impacted swamp nose down.

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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