# NTSB SEA68A0063: Mooney M20B, N74561, Bend, OR, April 4, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 4, 1968
- Place: Bend, OR · BEND, OR
- Location: 44.0582° N, 121.3153° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bend, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0582&lon=-121.3153&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 110601
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA68A0063
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA68A0063

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4355   68/4/4  NR.BEND,OREG          MOONEY M20B         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1715                    N74561              PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  26, 1431 TOTAL HOURS, 12
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      3500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      50
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           35                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE-4/7/68.STRUCK SIDE OF MT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74561](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74561-1968-06-03), registration cancelled 1968-06-03, S/N 1872 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20B
- Registry model: [Mooney M20B](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20b) (registry code 5870206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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.