# NTSB IAD79FA077: Mooney M-20F, N7747M, Troutdale, VA, September 2, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 2, 1979
- Place: Troutdale, VA · TROUTDALE, VA
- Location: 36.6961° N, 81.4376° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Troutdale, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6961&lon=-81.4376&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 10, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134748
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79FA077
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA077

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2209   79/9/2    TROUTDALE,VA        MOONEY M-20F        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 987
        TIME - 1730                    N7747M              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SMITH MTN LAKE,VA           ABINGDON,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                      RAIN, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- AIRCRAFT FLEW INTO MOUNTAIN AT 4500FT MSL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7747M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7747M-1981-10-15), registration cancelled 1981-10-15, S/N 22-0015 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19790902027559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790902027559A), Sep 2, 1979: Mooney M20F, Troutdale, VA, Destroyed. Pilot attempted to maintain VFR in IFR weather conditions. Flew into a fog-covered mountain.

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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