# NTSB IAD80FA033: Mooney M20C, N44Z, Beckley, WV, March 25, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 25, 1980
- Place: Beckley, WV · BECKLEY, WV
- Location: 37.7732° N, 81.1615° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Beckley, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7732&lon=-81.1615&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 30, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131956
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD80FA033
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FA033

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0695  80/3/25    BECKLEY,WV          MOONEY M20C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 959
        TIME - 2306                    N44Z                PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 850 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RALEIGH CO MEM
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ST.LOUIS,MO                 BECKLEY,WV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       34
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           70                                                       3
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- NON-INST PLT FILED IFR,HIT TREES BLO ARPT ELEV 4.5NM FM FLD DRG NGT WX ILS.ANOTHER PLT RPRTD ICG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44Z-2012-06-27), registration cancelled 2012-06-27, S/N 2375, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Raleigh Co Mem

## 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 19800325008009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800325008009A), Mar 25, 1980: Mooney M20C, Beckley, WV, Destroyed. Non-instrument rated pilot attempted IFR operation. Crashed on approach.

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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