# NTSB LAX82FA049: Mooney M20C, N7860V, Victorville, CA, January 23, 1982 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: January 23, 1982, 11:55 local (19:55 UTC) - Place: Victorville, CA - Coordinates: 34.490097, -117.360717 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4901&lon=-117.3607&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 4 minor - Status: Completed, report January 23, 1983 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 72929 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72929/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA049 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, unknown - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, unknown - wing - separation (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, cruise - normal - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal - landing gear,main gear - separation (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE PILOT HAD PLANNED TO FLY TO THE BIG BEAR AIRPORT, BUT CHANGED HIS DESTINATION TO APPLE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. WHILE ON AN EASTERLY HEADING AT ABOUT 6800 FT MSL, A COLLISION OCCURRED WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT, A MOONEY M20C, N7860V. THE PIPER PILOT BELIEVED THAT THE MOONEY MAY HAVE BEEN CLIMBING. IMPACT MARKINGS INDICATED THAT THE MOONEY WAS ON A WEST-SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING AND IN ABOUT A 20 DEGREE RIGHT BANK. THE LEFT WING OF THE MOONEY SEPARATED AND THE MOONEY CRASHED IN A STEEP DESCENT. THE LEFT GEAR OF THE PIPER WAS SHEARED OFF AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, THE PROPELLER, AND THE FUSELAGE. THE PIPER PILOT WAS UNABLE TO USE THE RUDDERS DUE TO INJURIES, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO LAND ON A NEARBY ABANDONED AIRSTRIP. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE PILOT FLEW FROM LONG BEACH TO REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA WHERE HE PICKED UP A PASSENGER. HIS ITINERARY AFTER DEPARTING REDLANDS WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE PASSENGER WAS TO HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO REDLANDS. DURING FLIGHT, A COLLISION OCCURRED WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT, A PIPER PA-28, N32380. THE PIPER PA-28 PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ON AN EASTERLY HEADING AT 6800 FT MSL WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. IMPACT MARKINGS INDICATED THAT THE MOONEY M20C WAS ON A WEST SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING AND IN ABOUT A 20 DEGREE RIGHT BANK. THE LEFT WING OF THE MOONEY SEPARATED AND THE MOONEY CRASHED IN A STEEP DESCENT. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR OF THE PIPER WAS SHEARED OFF AND THE LEFT WING, FUSELAGE, AND PROPELLER WERE DAMAGED. HOWEVER, THE PIPER WAS LANDED AT A NEARBY ABANDONED AIRSTRIP. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N7860V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7860V-1984-08-11), registration cancelled 1984-08-11, S/N 2823 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2823 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-AID 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Frederick William Freese - Registered owner: Frederick William Freese - Departed: L12, REDLANDS, CA - Destination: L12, REDLANDS, CA ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N32380](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32380-2014-09-29), registration cancelled 2014-09-29, S/N 28-7510020, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7510020 - Airframe hours: 1369 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Airmech - Registered owner: John A Buck - Departed: 2LO, TEMECULA, CA - Destination: APV, APPLE VALLEY, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N7860V; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,930 total, 1,343 in this make and model, 1,872 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days - Pilot, aircraft N32380; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 399 total, 361 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Temperature: 115 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: VCV, 6 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19820123001581A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820123001581A), Jan 23, 1982: Mooney M20C, Victorville, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Collided in level flight with N32380 a PA28235. Impact sheared off left wing. Pilot banked seconds prior to impact. - [Accident 19820123001582A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820123001582A), Jan 23, 1982: Piper PA28235, Victorville, CA, Substantial damage. Collided with N7860V a M20C, both in level flight. Pilot was able to land his damaged aircraft on abandoned airport 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.