# NTSB LAX77FA002: Mooney M20C, N2734W, Phoenix, AZ, October 9, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 9, 1976
- Place: Phoenix, AZ · PHOENIX, AZ
- Location: 33.4484° N, 112.0740° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Phoenix, AZ, within about 13 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4484&lon=-112.0740&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 14, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156063
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX77FA002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FA002

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2812   76/10/9 NR.PHOENIX,AZ         MOONEY M20C         CR-  2  0  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1640                    N2734W              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 41, 632 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PHOENIX,AZ                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
        REMARKS- WITNESSES OBSERVED AIRCRAFT IN A SPIN AND PILOT PULLING OUT TOO LATE. HIT TREES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2734W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2734W-1976-11-29), registration cancelled 1976-11-29, S/N 3342 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (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 19761009031809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761009031809A), Oct 9, 1976: Mooney M20C, Phoenix, AZ, Destroyed. Witnesses observed aircraft in a spin and pilot pulling out too late. Hit trees.

## Other investigations on N2734W (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN69D0009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN69D0009), Jun 16, 1968: Mooney M21 (N2734W), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage

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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