# NTSB LAX80FA010: Mooney M20E, N1942Y, Mammoth Lakes, CA, November 3, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 3, 1979
- Place: Mammoth Lakes, CA · MAMMOTH LAKES, CA
- Location: 37.6244° N, 118.9884° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mammoth Lakes, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6244&lon=-118.9884&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133312
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA010
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA010

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3678   79/11/3   MAMMOTH LAKES,CA    MOONEY M20E         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 54, 2186
        TIME - 1834                    N1942Y              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MAMMOTH LAKES
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MILFORD,UT                  PALO ALTO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          BLOWING SNOW                                             IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- NOT ANTI/DE-ICER EQPD.PLT REPORTED HVY SNOW & ICING CONDS,UN TO MAINTAIN ALT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1942Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1942Y-2009-07-10), registration cancelled 2009-07-10, S/N 249, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Mammoth Lakes

## 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 19791103040209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791103040209A), Nov 3, 1979: Mooney M20E, Mammoth Lakes, CA, Substantial damage. Indicates pilot lost altitude & control of aircraft in heavy snow due to icing &turbulence.

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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