# NTSB MKC89FA179: Mooney M20F, N6960V, Mound City, KS, August 13, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 13, 1989, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Mound City, KS
- Location: 38.1395° N, 94.8212° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mound City, KS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB coordinates: 39.110923, -94.319786 (estimated), outside the stated state
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1395&lon=-94.8212&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34693
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89FA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34693/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89FA179

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS & HEAVY RAIN WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - aircraft control - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PIC HAD OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING AND WAS ADVISED OF WIDELY SCATTERED STORM ACTIVITY EXISTING ALONG THE ROUTE. THE ACFT WAS OBSRVD IN THE VICINITY OF MOUND CITY AROUND 1400. WITNESSES HAD OBSRVD A RAPIDLY BUILDING STORM CELL SOUTHWEST THAT WAS MOVING NORTHEAST. THE STORM CELL DUMPED HUGE AMOUNTS OF RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD, WITH THE ACFT HEARD TO BE FLYING IN THE VICINITY DURING THE HEAVIEST EVENT OF THE STORM. THE SOUND OF AN ENG REV-UP WAS FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF AN IMPACT. THE STORM CELL WAS NOT OBSRVD ON RADAR, BUT IT WAS OBSRVD TO BE OF SUCH SIZE AS TO ALLOW FOR CIRCUMNAVIATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6960V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6960V-1990-07-26), registration cancelled 1990-07-26, S/N 221327 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-1327
- Airframe hours: 1807
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Worley, James M.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 10, 1988
- Departed: T12, KIRBYVILLE, TX
- Destination: STJ, ST. JOSEPH, MS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,147 total, 70 in this make and model, 1,147 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 84 °F

## 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 19890813028789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890813028789A), Aug 13, 1989: Mooney M20F, Mound City, KS, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into an isolated storm cell with heavy rain, lost control and crashed.

## Other investigations on N6960V (1)

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.

- [NTSB IAD80DLQ11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80DLQ11), Jan 26, 1980: Mooney M20F (N6960V), Albany, KY, substantial damage

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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