# Accident 20121217029279A: Mooney M20F, Lee Vining, CA, December 17, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 17, 2012, 20:30 local time
- Place: Lee Vining, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.7750° N, 119.3503° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7750&lon=-119.3503&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9524M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9524M-2014-11-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20F (registry code 5870214, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13FA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA312) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121217029279A

## Narrative

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

FLIGHT DEPARTED SANTA YNEZ AT 1827 LOCAL TIME.  LAST RADAR HIT WAS AT 2030.  FLIGHT PATH WAS GENERALY DIRECT UNTIL ABOUT 20 MILES FROM THE MAMMOTH AIRPORT. THE RADAR PLOT THEN SHOWS THE PLANE FLEW WEST ABOUT 20 MILES AND MANEUVERED IN THE AREA, PRESUMEDLY TO DESCEND BELOW CLOUD BASES.  THE TRACK THEN SHOWS A PATH BACK TO THE EAST FOR ABOUT 20 MILES WHERE THE RADAR TRACK WAS LOST.  THE PLANE WAS FOUND IN A ROCKY SLOPE AT THE BOTTOM OF A SMALL CANYON.  NEXRAD DEPICTION SHOWS MODERATE PRECIPITATION IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH.

## 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 WPR13FA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA312), Dec 17, 2012: Mooney M20F (N9524M), Yosemite Valley, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain situational awareness and sufficient altitude to clear mountainous terrain.

## Other reports on N9524M (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20121217027849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121217027849A), Dec 17, 2012: Mooney M20F (N9524M), Yosemite Nation, CA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Alnot on 12/17 at 2309PST, missing aircraft reported. Aircraft departed santa ynez (kiza) to mammoth lakes (mmh), CA, no report from pilot, which became…

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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