# NTSB MKC74AK017: Mooney M20E, N6985U, Cassoday, KS, October 9, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 9, 1973
- Place: Cassoday, KS · CASSODAY, KS
- Location: 38.0387° N, 96.6387° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cassoday, KS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0387&lon=-96.6387&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 5, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201612
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC74AK017
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74AK017-201612

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3135   73/10/9 NR.CASSODAY,KANS      MOONEY M20E         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 42, 2000
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N6985U              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EL DORADO,KANS              LEAVENWORTH,KANS
        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)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       69
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          170                                                       18
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 10/10/73. PLTS TIME AS OF 12/1/72.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6985U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6985U-1973-12-19), registration cancelled 1973-12-19, S/N 706 (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

## 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 19731009034699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731009034699A), Oct 9, 1973: Mooney M20D, Cassoday, KS, Destroyed. Recovery date 10/10/73. Plts time as of 12/1/72.

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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