# NTSB MIA68A0068: Mooney M20F, N3785N, Rochelle, GA, April 14, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 14, 1968
- Place: Rochelle, GA · ROCHELLE, GA
- Location: 31.9488° N, 83.4569° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rochelle, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9488&lon=-83.4569&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 13, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 110767
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA68A0068
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA68A0068-110767

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1135  68/4/14    ROCHELLE,GA         MOONEY M20F         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 21, 258
        TIME - 1820                    N3785N              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 4 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: BUZZING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT WAS OBSERVED BUZZING PARENTS HOME.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3785N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3785N-1968-06-26), registration cancelled 1968-06-26, S/N 680119 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
