# NTSB LAX83FA274: Mooney M20J, N3894H, Death Valley, CA, June 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1983, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Death Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 36.599266, -116.830329 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5993&lon=-116.8303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23461
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA274
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23461/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA274

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - airspeed indicator - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - improper use of procedure, pilot in command (cause)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - uncontrolled, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT INITIATED HIS TAKEOFF FROM THE DEATH VALLEY ARPT AT ABOUT 1530 HRS ON A HOT DAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDEDWITH TREES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY & CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD ANGLED TO THE LEFT PRIOR TO REACHING THE 1000 FT MARKER. DEPRESSIONS LOCATED LEFT OF THE RWY INDICATED THAT THE ACFT HAD BECOME AIRBORNE, DEPARTED THE RWY, THEN STRUCK THE GROUND 1036 FT FROM THE APCH END OF RWY 15. THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN, CONTINUED TO THE LEFT & STRUCK AN 18 INCH MOUND OF DIRT, 1125 FT FROM THE APCH END OF THE RWY. AGAIN, THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE & STRUCK 2 MESQUITE TREES, THEN CRASHED & CAME TO REST 1380 FT FROM THE APCH END OF RWY 15, AND 230 FT EAST OF THE RWY CENTERLINE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE DID NOT LOOK AT THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. IT WAS HIS HABIT TO 'GO BY FEEL.' THE WIND HAD BEEN ERRATIC, BUT WAS LIGHT TO NON-EXISTENT MOST OF THE DAY. PREVIOUSLY, HIS LEFT LEG HAD BEEN AMPUTATED BELOW THE KNEE & HE HAD AN ARTIFICIAL LEG. HIS PLT CERTIFICATE WAS BASED ON HIS BRITISH LICENSE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3894H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3894H-1989-07-17), registration cancelled 1989-07-17, S/N 240979 (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: 24-0979
- Airframe hours: 80
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Performance Aircraft, Inc.
- Registered owner: William G. & Barbara S.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 13, 1983, 80 hours before
- Departed: L06
- Destination: VYN, VAN NUYS, CA
- Airport: LO6, Death Valley, runway 15, 3,300 × 70 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 390 in this make and model, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DRO, 50 nm away

## 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 19830609024589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830609024589A), Jun 9, 1983: Mooney M20J, Death Valley, CA, Destroyed. Lost control after liftoff. Struck sand berms off side of runway and crashed inverted after hitting mesquite trees.

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.