# NTSB LAX78FUD01: Mooney M20, N4200, Compton, CA, October 29, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: October 29, 1977
- Place: Compton, CA · COMPTON, CA
- Location: 33.8940° N, 118.2275° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Compton, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8940&lon=-118.2275&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 12, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144509
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FUD01
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUD01

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3453  77/10/29   COMPTON,CA          MOONEY M20          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 56, 5410
        TIME - 1527                    N4200               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 614 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - COMPTON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COMPTON,CA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- APPROX 10GAL FUEL OBSERVED DRAINING FROM L TANK.ONE PINT FOUND IN R TANK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4200](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4200-1981-12-23), registration cancelled 1981-12-23, S/N 1002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20
- Registry model: [Mooney M20](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20) (registry code 5870202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Compton

## 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 19771029035019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771029035019A), Oct 29, 1977: Mooney M20, Compton, CA, Substantial damage. Approx 10GAL fuel observed draining from l tank. One pint found in r tank.

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.