# NTSB LAX73FUM35: Mooney M20F, N3518N, Camp Pndltn, CA, June 6, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: June 6, 1973
- Place: Camp Pndltn, CA · CAMP PNDLTN, CA
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190236
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX73FUM35
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73FUM35

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1540   73/6/6    CAMP PNDLTN,CALIF   MOONEY M20F         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 63, 283
        TIME - 1515                    N3518N              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 250 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OCEANSIDE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SEDONA,ARIZ                 OCEANSIDE,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       70
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- LET DOWN INTO OCST,AUTO-PLT ON. UN MAINTAIN CTL & CRASHED IN SWAMP.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3518N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3518N-2020-05-08), registration cancelled 2020-05-08, S/N 680081, 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Oceanside

## 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 19730606015769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730606015769A), Jun 6, 1973: Mooney M20D, Camp Pndltn, CA, Destroyed. Let down into ocst,auto-plt on. Un maintain ctl & crashed in swamp.

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.