# Accident 20070203001239A: Mooney M20J, Borrego Springs, CA, February 3, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 3, 2007, 18:38 local time
- Place: Borrego Springs, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.1711° N, 116.4239° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1711&lon=-116.4239&mi=10
- Aircraft: N201RV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201RV-2008-09-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,725 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX07FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA080) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070203001239A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING DESCENT FOR LANDING AT BORREGO SPRINGS, CA, THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE TOP OF A RIDGE APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 50 FEET BELOW THE CREST OF THE RIDGE AND 200-300 YARDS FURTHER ALONG THE FLIGHT PATH. CONDITIONS WERE VMC AND ALTHOUGH THE MOON WAS NEARLY FULL, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE SUN HAD SET AND THE MOON HAD NOT YET COME UP. THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE INDICATED THAT, ALTHOUGH THE PILOT HAD A HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE, IT SEEMED THAT HE WAS AT THE CONTROLS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. CIRCUMSTANCE SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN.

## 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 LAX07FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA080), Feb 4, 2007: Mooney M20J (N201RV), Ranchita, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance during a cruise descent. Contributing to the accident were the dark night lighting conditions and the mountainous terrain.

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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