# NTSB LAX84FA065: Mooney M20A, N8110E, Mammoth Lakes, CA, November 12, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 12, 1983
- Place: Mammoth Lakes, CA
- Coordinates: 37.579345, -118.840545 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5793&lon=-118.8405&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): 23909
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23909/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA065

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (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

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A MOUNTAIN SIDE AT SOME TIME PRIOR TO 0900 ON 11/12/83 WHEN THE ELT SIGNAL WAS 1ST REPORTED, VIA SATELLITE. BEFORE THE FLT, THE STUDENT PLT WAS LAST SEEN IN BAKERSFIELD, CA AT ABOUT 0100 THAT MORNING. A RESCUE MISSION WAS DELAYED DUE TO PROHIBITIVE WX CONDITIONS WHICH INCLUDED HIGH WINDS & BLOWING SNOW. INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED WITH A ROCK RIDGE AT AN ELEVATION OF 10,400 FT MSL. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED WHILE IN AN UPRIGHT, WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE & DESCENDING AT AN ANGLE OF ABOUT 5 DEG. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF A PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT OR ENG. A TOXICOLOGICAL CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AMPHETAMINE AT 0.6 MG/L & METHAMPHETAMINE AT 1.2 MG/L. BETWEEN 0100 & 0900 PST, THE CLOUD BASES WERE ABOVE 4000 FT, CLOUD TOPS ABOVE 10,000 FT, MODERATE TURBULENCE POSSIBLE BELOW 12,000 FT, FREEZING LEVEL NEAR 8000 FT & LIGHT TO MODERATE ICING IN CLOUDS ABOVE THE FREEZING LEVEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8110E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8110E-2013-05-31), registration cancelled 2013-05-31, S/N 1381, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20A
- Registry model: [Mooney M20A](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20a) (registry code 5870204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1318
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Frank Harrison
- Registered owner: Louie E. Baughman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: L45, BAKERSFIELD, CA
- Destination: BIH, BISHOP, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported

## 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 19831112059959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831112059959A), Nov 12, 1983: Mooney M20A, Mammoth Lakes, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Hit the side of a cloud obscured mountain at cruise flight. No weather brief. Pilot had elevated blood drug level.

## Other investigations on N8110E (1)

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.

- [NTSB OAK78FVD33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FVD33), May 2, 1978: Mooney M20A (N8110E), Santa Rosa, CA, substantial damage

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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