# NTSB UNK64X1291: Mooney M20, N870B, Beckwourth, CA, April 12, 1964

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 12, 1964
- Place: Beckwourth, CA · BECKWOURTH, CA
- Location: 39.8439° N, 120.4140° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Beckwourth, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8439&lon=-120.4140&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 1, 1965
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 184902
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=UNK64X1291
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1291

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0181  64/4/12  NR.BECKWOURTH CALIF   MOONEY M20          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 824
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N870B               PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 482 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     *ERROR-INVALID CODE*
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE-04/14/64.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N870B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N870B-1965-05-18), registration cancelled 1965-05-18, S/N 1032, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20
- Registry model: [Mooney M20](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20) (registry code 5870202) (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.

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