# NTSB NYC83LA038: Mooney M20F, N6871V, North Caldwell, NY, December 3, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 2, 1982, 23:00 local (Dec 3, 1982, 04:00 UTC)
- Place: North Caldwell, NY
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72032
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83LA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72032/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83LA038

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A FOG BANK WHILE MAKING A STRAIGHT IN LANDING AT ESSEX COUNTY AIRPORT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB AND STILL MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6871V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6871V-2013-06-10), registration cancelled 2013-06-10, S/N 22-1264, built 1975 (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 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-1264
- Airframe hours: 1426
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: G & E Aviation
- Registered owner: G & E Aviation
- Departed: ALB, ALBANY, NY
- Destination: CDW, CALDWELL, NJ
- Airport: Essex Co., runway 22, 4,550 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,997 total, 2,900 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 131 °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 19821202066159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821202066159A), Dec 2, 1982: Mooney M20F, Caldwell, NJ, Substantial damage. Entered a fog bank on final. Struck trees and crashed.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
