# NTSB LAX80FA025: Mooney M20J, N201UN, Palo Alto, CA, December 15, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 15, 1979
- Place: Palo Alto, CA · PALO ALTO, CA
- Location: 37.3965° N, 122.1431° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Palo Alto, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3965&lon=-122.1431&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 26, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132059
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA025

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3619  79/12/15   PALO ALTO,CA        MOONEY M20J         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 68, 600
        TIME - 1040                    N201UN              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 90 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PALO ALTO
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PALO ALTO,CA                SCOTTSDALE,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      320
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           5                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT'S BLOOD-24% SAT W CO.CRASHED DRG TURN OVR WTR IN FOG/HAZE.IMC NRBY AT MOFFET NAS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N201UN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201UN-2013-01-31), registration cancelled 2013-01-31, S/N 24-0375, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (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: Palo Alto

## 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 19791215044049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791215044049A), Dec 15, 1979: Mooney M20J, Palo Alto, CA, Destroyed. Entered steep, upwind bank after takeoff, and dived into the ground. Carbon monoxide in pilot's blood.

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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