# NTSB LAX83FA456: Mooney M20K, N231GJ, Patterson, CA, September 22, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 22, 1983, 08:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Patterson, CA
- Coordinates: 32.870258, -114.719085 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8703&lon=-114.7191&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): 23517
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA456
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23517/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA456

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO RISING TERRAIN IN A SEMI-BOX CANYON IN THE DIABLO RANGE. THE CRASH SITE WAS AT AN ELEVATION OF APRX 1200 FT MSL. THE CANYON TOPS RANGED FROM 1500 TO 1700 FT. ACCORDING TO A FARMER RESIDING 2 MI WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AT 200 FT MSL, THE 0830 PDT WX WAS FOGGY & RAINY, MOUNTAIN TOPS OBSCURED, WINDS GUSTY FROM THE NORTHWEST. THE IMPACT OCCURRED ON STEEP TERRAIN WITH AN ESTIMATED UPWARD SLOPE OF 60 DEG. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE PLT WAS INSTRUMENT RATED, BUT DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN. NO RECORD WAS FOUND OF A PREFLT WX BRIEFING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N231GJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-0234
- Airframe hours: 469
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360GB 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James C. Mcgladdery
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 1982, 64 hours before
- Departed: 103, LODI, CA
- Destination: VIS, VISALIA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,836 total, 1,285 in this make and model, 1,756 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19830922050729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830922050729A), Sep 22, 1983: Mooney M20K, Patterson, CA, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed in a box canyon at 1200 ft. elevation. Weather was IMC at time of accident.

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.