# NTSB NYC81FA029: Mooney M20F, N1919T, Montgomery Twp, NJ, February 22, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 22, 1981
- Place: Montgomery Twp, NJ · MONTGOMERY TWP, NJ
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 1, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127001
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81FA029
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FA029

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0703  81/2/22    MONTGOMERY TWP,NJ   MOONEY M20F         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 52, 949
        TIME - 1930                    N1919T              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 42 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PRINCETON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HILTON HEAD,SC              TETERBORO,NJ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           SYSTEMS - OTHER SYSTEMS: VACUUM SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- PLT RPRTD LOW VACUUM LGT ON & LOSS OF ATTITUDE IND & DIR GYRO.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1919T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1919T-2014-09-10), registration cancelled 2014-09-10, S/N 680137, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Princeton

## 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 19810222004859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810222004859A), Feb 22, 1981: Mooney M20F, Princeton, PA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Vacuum problems on IFR. Lost horizon and dg. Engine quit. Lost control. Impacted ground at high velocity.

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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