# Accident 20130722012919A: Mooney M20C, South Lake Taho, CA, July 22, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 22, 2013, 11:00 local time
- Place: South Lake Taho, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8897° N, 119.9906° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8897&lon=-119.9906&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6709U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6709U-2018-02-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20C (registry code 5870208, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13FA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA335) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130722012919A

## Narrative

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

ACCORDING TO A WITNESS STATEMENT, THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF FROM RUNWAY 36 AND AT ABOUT MIDFIELD THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN ?ABOUT A 25 DEGREE CLIMBING BANK TURN TO THE RIGHT (EAST).?  ?THEN THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO ESTABLISH A HIGHER PITCH UP ATTITUDE TO CLEAR THE IMMEDIATE TREES.?  THE AIRCRAFT WAS NO LONGER CLIMBING AND THEN STARTED TO SINK.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN MADE A SLIGHT TURN TO THE LEFT, LOST ALTITUDE AND DISAPPEARED BEHIND A RIDGE/TREE LINE.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND EAST OF THE AIRPORT IN AN INVERTED POSITION.

## 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 WPR13FA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA335), Jul 22, 2013: Mooney M20C (N6709U), South Lake Tahoe, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to turn into rising terrain that would have required performance in excess of the airplane’s maximum climb rate to clear after taking off at a high density altitude.

## Other reports on N6709U (1)

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

- [Incident 20031224035349I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031224035349I), Dec 24, 2003: Mooney M20C (N6709U), Palo Alto, CA, Minor damage. (-23) Mooney M20C, nose gear collapsed during landing roll at Palo Alto, CA, airport rwy 13 at 231942PST. Two occupants not injured. Minor aircraft damage…

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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