# NTSB MKC69A0035: Mooney M20E, N5965Q, Rochester, MN, November 24, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 24, 1968
- Place: Rochester, MN · ROCHESTER, MN
- Location: 44.0216° N, 92.4699° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rochester, MN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0216&lon=-92.4699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 19, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 191935
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC69A0035
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC69A0035

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4625  68/11/24   ROCHESTER,MINN      MOONEY M20E         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 56, 738
        TIME - 1910                    N5965Q              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ROCHESTER
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      36
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          340                                                       11
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           CONTROLLED VFR
        REMARKS- PLT DEPARTED RWY 31 ON A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE. CRASHED 1 MILE FROM ARPT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5965Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5965Q-1971-10-27), registration cancelled 1971-10-27, S/N 843 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Rochester

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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