# NTSB LAX06CA118: Mooney M20F, N9704M, Willits, CA, February 17, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 16, 2006, 20:30 local (Feb 17, 2006, 04:30 UTC) - Place: Willits, CA - Coordinates: 39.451389, -123.372222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4514&lon=-123.3722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63245 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63245/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA118 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain visual contact with the runway at night, which resulted in a descent below the proper glide path and a collision with a tree. Also causal was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - fog - light condition - dark night - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, dual student (cause) - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper glidepath - not maintained, dual student (cause) - object - tree(s) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The airplane impacted a tree on short final after the pilot inadvertently entered a low-lying area of ground fog and lost visual contact with the runway. The pilot was not current for night flights and hired a certified flight instructor (CFI) to assist in the night flight. The pilot activated the pilot controlled medium intensity runway edge lights over the common traffic advisory frequency. While the flight was on final approach, the airplane inadvertently entered an area of low-lying ground fog and descended too low. The CFI applied full power but the airplane impacted a tree with the right wing. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 2006, at 2030 Pacific standard time, a Mooney M20F, N9704M, impacted a tree while on final approach for runway 34 at the Willits Municipal Airport, Willits, California. The airplane was operated by the pilot/owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The private pilot and a passenger sustained minor injuries, while the certified flight instructor (CFI) and another passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the cross-country flight that originated from Sacramento International Airport (SMF), Sacramento, California, at 1846. The flight was destined for Willits. According to the pilot's written statement, he hired the CFI to assist in the night flight, as he was not current in night operations. The pilot and CFI flew from Lampson Field, Lampson, California, to Sacramento to pickup two passengers. The passengers were to be dropped off at Willits and the pilot and CFI were to return to Lampson. The pilot obtained a weather briefing prior to making the uneventful flight to Sacramento. After picking up the passengers the flight proceeded to Willits. After reaching the vicinity of Willits, the pilots activated the pilot controlled lighting over the common traffic advisory frequency. They entered a right downwind for runway 34, which was lit by runway edge lights. As the pilot flew the airplane onto final approach at 80 knots, he entered a low-lying area of ground fog and temporarily lost sight of the runway. The airplane descended too low and the CFI applied full power but the airplane impacted a tree on short final with its right wing. The Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) for Willits indicates that trees were present on the approach end of runway 16 and 34 and medium intensity runway lighting was available. The pilot indicated that some of the runway edge lights were inoperative. The airport was not equipped with a visual approach slope indicator or a precision approach path indicator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9704M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9704M-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N 670264, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20F - Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 670264 - Airframe hours: 5027.9 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vivek Reddy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2005, 43.9 hours before - Departed: SMF, Sacramento, CA - Destination: O28, Willits, CA - Airport: O28, Willits, runway 34, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 254 total, 29 in this make and model, 177 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 79; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 8,554 total, 856 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 280° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: UKI, 21 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060216001989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060216001989A), Feb 16, 2006: Mooney M20F, Willits, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 02/16/06 at approximately 19:39 PST while attempting a night landing at Willits CA airport id O28, certified flight instructor [privacy data omitted]… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.