# NTSB LAX86LA312: Mooney M20F, N6762V, Cloverdale, CA, July 5, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 5, 1986, 10:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: Cloverdale, CA
- Coordinates: 38.780727, -122.919845 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7807&lon=-122.9198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25226
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA312
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25226/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA312

## Sequence of events

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

- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, cruise
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - throttle/power control - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - wire,static
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH WIRES FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE WAS FOLLOWING A RIVER AT 1,500 FT MSL AT A SLOW AIRSPEED WHEN THE STALL WARNING SOUNDED. THE PLT STATED THAT HE LOWERED THE NOSE IN A DOWNDRAFT AND RECOVERED CLOSE TO THE GROUND. THE RIVER ELEVATION IS APRX 4OO FT MSL IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE ACFT DESCENDED APRX 1100 FT PRIOR TO THE COLLISION WITH THE WIRES. THE PLT ALSO INDICATED THE WINDS WERE FROM THE NW AT 20 KTS GUSTING TO 30 KTS AND THAT THE TURBULENCE WAS SEVERE. THE FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR 61-21A, ENTITLED 'FLIGHT TRAINING HANDBOOK' STATES, 'THE PILOT MUST PROMPTLY RECOGNIZE THE INDICATIONS OF AN IMMINENT STALL AND TAKE TIMELY, POSITIVE CONTROL ACTION TO PREVENT A FULL STALL. PERFORMANCE IS UNSATISFACTORY IF A FULL STALL OCCURS, IF AN EXCESSIVELY LOW PITCH ATTITUDE IS ATTAINED, OR IF THE PILOT FAILS TO TAKE TIMELY ACTION TO AVOID EXCESSIVE LOSS OF ALTITUDE'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6762V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6762V-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 700057 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 700057
- Airframe hours: 3354
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Vincent K. Kelly
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 1986, 20 hours before
- Departed: STS, SANTA MONICA, CA
- Destination: UKI, UKIAH, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 750 total, 600 in this make and model, 650 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 315° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19860705048039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860705048039A), Jul 5, 1986: Mooney M20F, Cloverdale, CA, Substantial damage. Reported severe downdraft caused a wire strike over the dry river bed, remained aloft. Failed to report 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.

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