# NTSB MKC74FCD05: Mooney M20A, N6042X, Des Moines, IA, July 27, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 27, 1973
- Place: Des Moines, IA · DES MOINES, IA
- Location: 41.6005° N, 93.6091° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Des Moines, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6005&lon=-93.6091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 12, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 189481
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC74FCD05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74FCD05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2051  73/7/27    DES MOINES,IOWA     MOONEY M20A         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 51, 3590
        TIME - 1651                    N6042X              PX-  1  2  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 265 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DES MOINES MUN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DES MOINES,IOWA             VANDALIA,ILL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: ELEVATOR AND ELEVATOR TAB CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MISSING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISCONNECTED
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
        REMARKS- BOLT MISSING BETWEEN ELEV CNTRL YOKE AND FIRST LINK OF ELEV CONTROL TUBE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6042X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6042X-1973-10-02), registration cancelled 1973-10-02, S/N 1633 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20A
- Registry model: [Mooney M20A](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20a) (registry code 5870204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Des Moines Mun

## 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 19730727022509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730727022509A), Jul 27, 1973: Mooney M20D, Des Moines, IA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Bolt missing between elev cntrl yoke and first link of elev control tube.

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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