# NTSB LAX70AL048: Mooney M20E, N2715W, Cabazon, CA, February 10, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 10, 1970
- Place: Cabazon, CA · CABAZON, CA
- Location: 33.9127° N, 116.7828° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cabazon, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9127&lon=-116.7828&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 23, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134604
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX70AL048
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70AL048

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1510  70/2/10  NR.CABAZON,CALIF      MOONEY M20E         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 54, 3575
        TIME - 1310                    N2715W              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 493 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          QUEEN CREEK,ARIZ            TORRANCE,CALIF               PALM SPRINGS,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO OBSCURED MNTN SLOPE 17 MI PAST INTENDED LDG PT. RECOVERY DATE 2/14/70.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2715W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2715W-1975-05-21), registration cancelled 1975-05-21, S/N 1024, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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.

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