# NTSB LAX81FA075: Mooney M20E, N6947U, Banning, CA, April 18, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 18, 1981
- Place: Banning, CA · BANNING, CA
- Location: 33.9459° N, 116.8990° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Banning, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9459&lon=-116.8990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125424
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA075
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA075

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3447  81/4/18    BANNING,CA          MOONEY M20E         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 34, 214
        TIME - 0002                    N6947U              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 40 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PARKER,AZ                   RIVERSIDE,CA
        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)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT DEPT ELGIN,IL EARLY ON THE MORNING OF 4/17/81.STOPPED AT ALBUQUERQUE FOR 1 HR OF DUAL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6947U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6947U-2013-05-02), registration cancelled 2013-05-02, S/N 317, 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: 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 19810418017679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810418017679A), Apr 18, 1981: Mooney M20E, Banning, CA, Destroyed. Flew into side of a mountain at night with near zero visibility, fog obscuring mountains.

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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