# NTSB LAX83FA160: Mooney M20E, N2571W, Cobb, CA, March 26, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 26, 1983, 13:09 local (21:09 UTC)
- Place: Cobb, CA
- Location: 38.8353° N, 122.7224° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cobb, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8353&lon=-122.7224&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23440
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23440/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA160

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - downhill (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD LEFT HIS ACFT AT LAKEPORT, CA FOR MAINTENANCE TO BE PERFORMED & BARROWED MOONEY M20E, N2571W. BEFORE THE PLT TOOK OFF, THE OWNER HEARD HIM TALKING TO SOMEONE ABOUT THE WX, BUT NO RECORD OF A WX BRIEFING WAS FOUND. WHILE EN ROUTE TO PALO ALTO, CA, THE ACFT CRASHED ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF APRX 3600 FT MSL. THE IMPACT OCCURRED ON 30 DEG DOWN SLOPING TERRAIN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. SEVERAL PEOPLE HEARD THE ACFT & REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL, EXCEPT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE PLT APPLIED FULL POWER JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. WITNESSES AGREED THAT THE UPPER SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAIN WAS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS & THE BOTTOM OF THE CLOUD LAYER WAS BETWEEN 3500 & 3800 FT MSL. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT HAD LOGGED ONLY ABOUT 7 HRS OF SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2571W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 932
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Paul E. Loewen
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 1982
- Departed: 102, LAKEPORT, CA
- Destination: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 309 total, 270 in this make and model, 251 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm

## 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 19830326009359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830326009359A), Mar 26, 1983: Mooney M20E, Cobb, CA, Destroyed. VFR pilot impacted the side of a cloud obscured mountain. Witness heard engine sounds of a last second pullup.

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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