# NTSB SEA72DTI08: Mooney M20C, N78939, Great Falls, MT, October 3, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: October 3, 1971
- Place: Great Falls, MT · GREAT FALLS, MT
- Location: 47.5025° N, 111.3000° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Great Falls, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5025&lon=-111.3000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 12, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164266
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA72DTI08
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA72DTI08

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3954   71/10/3   GREAT FALLS,MONT    MOONEY M20C         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, 204
        TIME - 0825                    N78939              PX-  0  1  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 39 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GREAT FALLS INT.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GREAT FALLS,MONT            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE CONTROLS: THROTTLE-POWER LEVER ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        REMARKS- THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE FAILED.METAL SLEEVE WAS FOUND LOOSE WHERE IT IS SWAGED TO CLEVIS END.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78939](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78939-2013-02-27), registration cancelled 2013-02-27, S/N 1973, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Great Falls Int.

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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