# NTSB IAD74AI030: Mooney M20C, Lenoir, NC, November 26, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: November 26, 1973
- Place: Lenoir, NC · LENOIR, NC
- Location: 35.9067° N, 81.5195° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lenoir, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: DirectorBrief, January 25, 1974
- NTSB case key (mKey): 173502
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD74AI030
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74AI030

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3544  73/11/26   LENOIR,NC           MOONEY M20C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1500                    N5515Q              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  36, 6600 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HAGERSTOWN,MD               JONESBORO,GA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- WRECKAGE RCVRD 12/01/73.BELIEVED DIVERTING TO GREENSBORO.HIT OBSCURED MOUNTAIN RIDGE.
```

## Sequence of events

- Enroute-descent

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5515Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5515Q-1974-02-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: Mooney M20C (registry code 5870208, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Damage: Destroyed
- FAA reports: 19731126040019A (https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731126040019A) (OpenAirDocs)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.