LAX85FA159

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M-20-E · Oceanside, CA · February 28, 1985

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
February 28, 1985, 11:02 local (19:02 UTC)
Place
Oceanside, CA
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N9325MMooney M-20-E
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19850228039689A
Case key
24474

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malfTakeoff - initial climb
Engine assembly,ring - failure,totalCause
Engine assembly,bearing - blocked(partial)Cause
Ignition system,spark plug - inoperativeCause
Lubricating system - blocked(partial)Cause
Maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - poorPilot in commandCause
Operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentionalPilot in commandCause
Loss of control - in flightManeuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
Judgment - poorPilot in commandCause
Procedures/directives - attemptedPilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in commandFactor
In flight collision with objectDescent - uncontrolled
Object - building(nonresidential)Factor

Analysis

Gnd witnesses reported the acft engine began to misfire shortly after departing ry 24 at Oceanside muni arpt Oceanside, CA. When the acft reached the departure end of the ry at ab out 100 ft AGL, the plt began a left turn. Prior to completing the turn, the acft stalled a crashed into a bldg located asouth & adfacent to ry 24. Both occupants aboard the acft sustained fatal injuries. No persons on the ground were injured. The blds was substantially damaged and its contents were distroyed. Disassembly exam of the engine revealed that the no. 1 cyl spark plugs were not fireing and that the no. 3 cyl piston compression ring was broken & the upper spark plug was oil soaked. The abscence of ring par- ticles in the oitl filter indicated the ring broke during the accident flt. Several crankshaft & con rod bearings showed high temp distress. Most of the oil passage holes were partially blocked by the bearings. The crankshaft was pushed rearward. The maint logs reveal two prior prop gnd contact. The eng had not been ovhld & had accum more than 1868 hrs.

Aircraft

Registration
N9325M
Reported as
Mooney M-20-E (N20E)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1257
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-A1A, 500 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Steven H. Chamblin
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 1, 1985
Departed
L32 · Oceanside, CA
Destination
FOT · Fortuna, CA
Airport
L32 · Oceanside, runway 24, 3,061 × 75 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
39
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 5 knots
Visibility
5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
1,000 ft overcast
Temperature
64 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.