# NTSB LAX80FA101: Mooney M20J, N4253H, Cajon, CA, May 28, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 28, 1980
- Place: Cajon, CA · CAJON, CA
- Location: 34.2989° N, 117.4564° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cajon, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2989&lon=-117.4564&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 16, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130518
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA101
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA101

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1940  80/5/28  NR.CAJON,CA           MOONEY M20J         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 55, 3750
        TIME - 1130                    N4253H              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          SAN DIEGO,CA                EUGENE,OR                   UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN/LOWER SCATTERED                                    4500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      58
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- HIT TOP OF RIDGE NR MTN PASS.LOW,FAST MOVING CLDS IN PASS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4253H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4253H-2012-11-21), registration cancelled 2012-11-21, S/N 24-0683, built 1978 (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

## 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 19800528056189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800528056189A), May 28, 1980: Mooney M20J, Cajon, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck near top of mountain ridge. Low clouds & stong winds in area. Crash area on lee side of mountain.

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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