# Accident 20131009022749A: Mooney M20E, Julian, CA, October 9, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 9, 2013, 14:43 local time
- Place: Julian, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.1625° N, 116.9597° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1625&lon=-116.9597&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7145U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7145U-2014-11-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20E (registry code 5870212, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA012) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131009022749A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 09, 2013 AT ABOUT 1443 PDT, N7145U, A MOONEY MODEL M20E AIRPLANE, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN NEAR JULIAN, CA. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OF THE PLANE, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS OPERATING THE PLANE UNDER 14 CFR  PART 91.  THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE PLANE WAS DESTROYED.

THE PLANE HAD DEPARTED FROM PALM SPRINGS, CA (PSP) WITH A PLANNED DESTINATION OF GILLESPIE FIELD AIRPORT (SEE),  EL CAJON, CA.  THE PLANE DEPARTED UNDER VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.

FAA REPORTED THAT THE PILOT WAS RECEIVING VFR FLIGHT FOLLOWING FROM SAN DIEGO APPROACH CONTROL WHEN ATC LOST RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT AT 1443 PDT. AN ALNOT WAS ISSUED.

SAN DIEGO SEARCH AND RESCUE LOCATED THE WRECKAGE AT ABOUT 0100 PDT ON OCT 10, 2013. THE WRECKAGE WAS ON A 60 DEGREE SLOPE OF VULCAN MOUNTAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF 4200 FT. MSL.

WHILE WEATHER AT THE CRASH SITE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH IS UNKNOWN, WEATHER OVER THE AREA AT THE TIME INCLUDED HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS.  SEARCH AND RESCUE AIRCRAFT WERE UNABLE TO FLY OVER THE CRASH SITE AREA FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE ALNOT WAS ISSUED DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT PREVAILED.

IT IS PRESUMED THAT THE SEVERE WEATHER WAS A FACTOR IN THE CRASH, RESULTING IN 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 WPR14FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA012), Oct 9, 2013: Mooney M20E (N7145U), Julian, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering to avoid clouds in mountainous terrain.

## Other reports on N7145U (2)

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

- [Incident 19950510021489I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950510021489I), May 10, 1995: Mooney M20E (N7145U), Lake Charles, LA, Minor damage. No green for gear down. Flyby showed down. Gear collapsed on roll out.
- [Incident 19801125080299I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801125080299I), Nov 25, 1980: Mooney M20E (N7145U), Grayson, KY. Fuel line ruptured during flight test after maintenance.

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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