# NTSB MKC85FA012: Mooney M20E, N79846, Carbondale, KS, November 1, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 31, 1984, 18:18 local (Nov 1, 1984, 00:18 UTC)
- Place: Carbondale, KS
- Coordinates: 38.819679, -95.689964 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8197&lon=-95.6900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33807
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC85FA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33807/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC85FA012

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE FLT WAS EN ROUTE FROM LITTLE ROCK, AR, TO TOPEKA, KA. TEN MILES SOUTH OF TOPEKA'S FROBES FIELD THE PLT REQUESTED WX INFO AND WAS TOLD THAT A CURRENT OBSERVATION WAS BEING TAKEN & HE WOULD BE ADVISED. CONTACT BETWEEN THE TOWER AND THE FLT COULD NOT BE REESTABLISHED. THE ACFT HAD CRASHED IN AN AREA WHERE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS IN PROGRESS. SEVERAL TRAILER HOMES WERE DESTROYED AND TWO PEOPLE WERE FATALLY INJURED ONE THIRD MILE SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE BY THE SEVERE WX.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79846](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79846-1985-09-26), registration cancelled 1985-09-26, S/N 510 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0510
- Airframe hours: 2847
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aeolian Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 17, 1984, 27 hours before
- Departed: LIT, LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Destination: TOP, TOPEKA, KS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,706 total, 139 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FOE, 7 nm away

## 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 19841031061729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841031061729A), Oct 31, 1984: Mooney M20E, Carbondale, KS, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft flew into a downburst in area of a severe thunderstorm. Pilot lost control. Ground impact near vertical.

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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