# NTSB LAX73FUA30: Mooney M20C, N6998U, Buena Park, CA, January 31, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 31, 1973
- Place: Buena Park, CA · BUENA PARK, CA
- Location: 33.8574° N, 118.0074° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Buena Park, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8574&lon=-118.0074&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170022
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX73FUA30
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73FUA30

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0247  73/1/31    BUENA PARK,CALIF    MOONEY M20C         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 832
        TIME - 2330                    N6998U              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 147 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FULLERTON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FULLERTON,CALIF             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        REMARKS- BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL 0.17PC.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6998U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6998U-2003-07-15), registration cancelled 2003-07-15, S/N 2719, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Fullerton

## 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 19730131001969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730131001969A), Jan 31, 1973: Mooney M20C, Buena Park, CA, Substantial damage. Blood alcohol level 0.17PC.

## Other investigations on N6998U (4)

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 MIA00LA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA151), May 11, 2000: Mooney M20C (N6998U), Bryson City, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing rollout with a known quartering crosswind, resulting in an on-ground collision with a known fixed object (wooden pallet.)
- [NTSB LAX76DUJ44](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76DUJ44), Jul 15, 1975: Mooney M20C (N6998U), Holbrook, AZ, substantial damage
- [NTSB OAK66F0053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK66F0053), Jul 30, 1965: Mooney M21 (N6998U), Modesto, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK65X1030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X1030), Dec 16, 1964: Mooney M20C (N6998U), San Jose, CA, substantial damage

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.
