# NTSB LAX72AL046: Mooney M20C, N6768V, Tehachapi, CA, January 23, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 23, 1972
- Place: Tehachapi, CA · TEHACHAPI, CA
- Location: 35.1430° N, 118.4460° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tehachapi, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1430&lon=-118.4460&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 165315
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX72AL046
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL046

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0155  72/1/23    TEHACHAPI,CALIF     MOONEY M20C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 38, 700
        TIME - 1846                    N6768V              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 666 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          VAN NUYS,CALIF              FRESNO,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AREAS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- MDT-SVR TURBC FCSTD BLO 15000FT OVR,S OF MTNS-MTNS,PASSES OBSCRD.PLT RPRTD LOSING ALT,TURBC.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6768V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6768V-1972-04-03), registration cancelled 1972-04-03, S/N 700077 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (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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