# Accident 20200313005369A: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, Sylmar, CA, March 13, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 13, 2020, 14:45 local time
- Place: Sylmar, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.3306° N, 118.5264° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3306&lon=-118.5264&mi=10
- Aircraft: N777WP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777WP-2020-11-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20K (registry code 5870220, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-360 series (registry code 17019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20K
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20FA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20FA108) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200313005369A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 13, 2020, ABOUT 1447 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A MOONEY M20K, N777WP, WAS DESTROYE WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR SYLMAR, CALIFORNIA. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING VECTORED FOR THE ILS 16R APPROACH AT VNY.  THE FLIGHT APPEARED NORMAL TILL ABOUT THE TIME OF GS INTERCEPTION.THE PILOT TURNED TO THE RIGHT, OFF COURSE, DESCENDED, AND STRUCK WIRES, IMPACETING THE GROUND.

## 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 WPR20FA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20FA108), Mar 13, 2020: Mooney M20K (N777WP), Sylmar, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s spatial disorientation during an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in loss of control of the airplane.

## Other reports on N777WP (1)

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

- [Incident 19921227055539I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921227055539I), Dec 27, 1992: Mooney M20K (N777WP), Van Nuys, CA, Minor damage. Almost landed gear up. Made a go around as propeller blade struck runway. Landed safely on second try.

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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