# Incident 20250307002979I: Mooney M20L, Oxnard, CA, March 7, 2025

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 7, 2025, 15:30 local time
- Place: Oxnard, CA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1994° N, 119.2075° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Oxnard, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1994&lon=-119.2075&mi=10
- Aircraft: N78MP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78MP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20L (registry code 5870221, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Porsche PFM3200N03 (registry code 51002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/porsche-pfm3200n03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20L
- Reported engine: PORSCHE PFM3200N03
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,800 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250307002979I

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS FLYING OFF THE COAST NEAR VENTURA, CA AT 3,500 FT MSL WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED VIBRATING. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER IMMEDIATLY TO IDLE AND CONSIDERED A CYCLINDER MIGHT HAVE DEPARTED. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATING NORMAL WITH NO VIBRATIONS. AT IDLE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO VIBRATE  WITH NO SMOKE OR EVIDENCE OF OIL LOSS. THE PILOT DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE TO STOP THE VIBRATION.  HE PITCHED FOR BEST GLIDE AND CONTACTED ATC FOR LANDING AT OXR AIRPORT. THE PILOT DECIDE TO LAND ON RUNWAY 7, ON APPROACH THE WINDMILLING PROPELLER FINALLY STOPED TURNING AND THAT IS WHEN THE PILOT SAW THAT ONE PROPELLER BLADE HAD BROKEN OFF WHICH HAD CAUSED THE VIBRATION. THE APPROACH AND LANDING WERE NORMAL AND THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO TAXI OFF THE RUNWAY AND STOP ON THE RAMP WITH NO ISSUES OR ASSISTANCE.

## Other reports on N78MP (1)

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

- [Incident 19900522026609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900522026609I), May 22, 1990: Mooney M20L (N78MP), Laredo, TX, Minor damage. Student retracted gear instead of flaps on touch and go landing. Instructor unable to stop cycle.

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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