# Accident 20170112000309A: Mooney M20J, Lake Hughes, CA, January 12, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 12, 2017, 09:30 local time
- Place: Lake Hughes, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.6839° N, 118.5764° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6839&lon=-118.5764&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6201N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6201N-2017-04-24) (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
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170112000309A

## Narrative

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

JANUARY 12, 2017, WHILE ENROUTE TO TORRANCE CALIFORNIA FROM TEHACHAPI CALIFORNIA, N6201N IMPACTED TERRAIN EIGHTY FEET BELOW THE LAKE HUGHES VOR FACILITY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF BURNT PEAK AT AN ELEVATION OF 5,788 FEET. N6201N WAS DESTROYED ON IMPACT, KILLING THE PILOT. THE ELT FAILED TO TRANSMIT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED SIX DAYS AFTER THE CRASH. THE IMPACT SIGNATURES AT THE ACCIDENT SITE INDICATED A (CFIT) EVENT AT CRUISE SPEED.

## 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 WPR17FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA055), Jan 12, 2017: Mooney M20J (N6201N), Lake Hughes, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's controlled flight into mountainous terrain while attempting to operate under visual flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).

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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