# NTSB LAX74AL041: Mooney M-20, N5259B, Fillmore, CA, November 24, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 24, 1973
- Place: Fillmore, CA · FILLMORE, CA
- Location: 34.3990° N, 118.9175° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fillmore, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3990&lon=-118.9175&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187375
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX74AL041
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74AL041

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4088  73/11/24   FILLMORE,CALIF      MOONEY M-20         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 55, 150
        TIME - 1340                    N5259B              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN FERNANDO,CALIF          SANTA PAULA,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: RIBS,STRINGER,CAP STRIPS
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SKIN AND ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- IMPROPERLY BONDED GLUE JOINTS.DETERIORATED RIBS & AUX SPAR.WING SEPARATION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5259B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5259B-1974-03-15), registration cancelled 1974-03-15, S/N 1122 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-20
- Registry model: [Mooney M20](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20) (registry code 5870202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19731124042389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731124042389A), Nov 24, 1973: Mooney M20, Fillmore, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Improperly bonded glue joints. Deteriorated ribs & aux spar. Wing separation.

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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