# Accident 20021111032169A: Mooney M20J, Fullerton, CA, November 11, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 11, 2002, 11:30 local time
- Place: Fullerton, CA
- Airport: Fullerton Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8667° N, 117.9667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8667&lon=-117.9667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1072N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1072N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA029) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021111032169A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT DEPARTED FULLERTON MUNICIPAL (FUL) WITH A DESTINATION OF BROWN FIELD (SDM). THE PILOT STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL DURING DEPARTURE UNTIL HE RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR, AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WHEELS UP ON AIRPORT PROPERTY IN A SMALL FIELD CONTAINING THE LOCALIZER ANTENNA ARRAY. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WITH NO INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS OR DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WAS CONTAMINATAED WITH A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE FUEL. AN AMOUNT OF WATER IN EXCESS OF 20 OUNCES WAS DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK SUMP. WATER WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE ENGINE FUEL INJECTOR DISTRIBUTOR. THE FUEL TANK CAPS HAD NOT BEEN OPENED AFTER THE LANDING AS EVIDENCED BY DIRT ON TOP OF THE CAPS THROWN THERE BY THE PROPELLER DURING THE LANDING. THE LOCAL AREA HAD EXPERIENCED HEAVY RAINFALL THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX03LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA029), Nov 11, 2002: Mooney M20J (N1072N), Fullerton, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection resulting in a loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel system.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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