# NTSB LAX83FA138: Mooney M20J, N8201V, Chatsworth, CA, March 14, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 13, 1983, 18:14 local (Mar 14, 1983, 02:14 UTC)
- Place: Chatsworth, CA
- Coordinates: 34.28049, -118.609802 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2805&lon=-118.6098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23434
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23434/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA138

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES 177 AGL DURING FLT IN ADVERSE WEATHER. ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE SITE OF THE POWERLINE COLLISION THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH HILLY TERRAIN ABOUT 500 FT HIGHER THAN THE POWERLINE. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING AND PARTS OF HIS ROUTE WAS IMC. DURING HIS FLT ENROUTE WEATHER UPDATES SHOWED WORSE WEATHER & VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED & A SITE TO LAND VFR WAS SUGGESTED. AT 1814 HOURS A POWER OUTAGE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF A BROKEN POWER LINE AT CA. STATE HIGHWAY 14 AND INTERSTATE 5. WITNESSES REPORTED THE WEATHER AT THAT TIME TO BE HEAVY RAINAND FOG & RPTD SEEING THE FLASH AS THE ACFT HIT THE POWERLINE. PART OF THE ACFT RUDDER WAS FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE BROKEN POWERLINE. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 2.4 NM SOUTHWEST OF THE BROKEN POWERLINE AT 2300 FT MSL NEAR CHATSWORTHCA. THERE WAS FIRE AFTER IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8201V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8201V-1992-08-25), registration cancelled 1992-08-25, S/N 240608 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-0608
- Airframe hours: 895
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: C & K Aviation
- Registered owner: James Eberhardt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 1983, 53 hours before
- Departed: MML, MOMMOTH LAKES, CA
- Destination: SMO, SANTA MONICA, CA
- Airport: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 240 total, 129 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk

## 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 19830313009249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830313009249A), Mar 13, 1983: Mooney M20J, Chatsworth, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck powerline then crashed into rising terrain. Rain, low ceiling and turbulence in area. VFR was not advised.

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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