# NTSB MIA72AM033: Mooney M20C, N2617W, Cottondale, FL, October 9, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 9, 1971
- Place: Cottondale, FL · COTTONDALE, FL
- Location: 30.7897° N, 85.3660° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cottondale, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7897&lon=-85.3660&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 6, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163458
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA72AM033
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72AM033

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2559   71/10/9   COTTONDALE,FLA      MOONEY M20C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 54, 203
        TIME - 1040                    N2617W              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 68 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          HOUSTON,TEX                 FORT LAUDERDALE,FLA          MOBILE,ALA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                            RAIN SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT FLEW INTO TSTM ACTIVITY. WASNT WEA BRIEFED PAST ENROUTE STOP.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2617W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2617W-1972-01-17), registration cancelled 1972-01-17, S/N 3293 (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

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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