# NTSB LAX87FA134: Mooney M20J, N201LF, Weed, CA, March 4, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 4, 1987, 15:56 local (23:56 UTC)
- Place: Weed, CA
- Coordinates: 41.510711, -122.359901 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5107&lon=-122.3599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25385
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25385/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA134

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - mountain wave (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT WAS ADZD THAT STRONG HEAD WINDS, MOD TO SVR TURBC, MTN OBSCUREMENT, MULTIPLE LAYERS OF ICING & DETERIORATING WX WERE FORECAST ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLT. HE FILED AN IFR CLNC & TOOK OFF AT 1115 PST. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE REQD THE MEDFORD WX & WAS ADZD OF STANDING LENTICULAR CLOUDS. AT 1328 PST, HE CANCELED HIS IFR CLNC. LATER, AT 1535, HE OBTAINED ANOTHER IFR CLNC & WAS ASSIGNED AN ALT OF 11,000'. AT 1546 PST, THE PLT RPRTD HE WAS ENCTRG DOWNDRAFTS; 8 MIN LATER, HE SAID HIS ALT WAS 9300'.  SHORTLY, THEREAFTER, RADAR & RADIO CTC WERE LOST AFTER THE ACFT DSCNDD THRU 8900'. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED ON THE LEE SIDE OF A 9025' MTN AT APRX THE 6200' LVL. IT WAS FOUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WITH ITS BELLY AGAINST AN IMPACT DAMAGED TREE. THE AFT FUSELAGE WAS BENT & TWISTED ABOUT 90 DEG, BUT THE EMPENNAGE WAS ESSENTIALLY UNDAMAGED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS EVIDENT. APRX 7 MI NORTH AT WEED ARPT (ELEV 2938'), THE WIND GUSTS WERE ESTD AT 70 TO 75 MPH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N201LF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201LF-1994-06-09), registration cancelled 1994-06-09, S/N 240456 (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: 24-0456
- Airframe hours: 1474
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pizza & Pipes Steattle, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1986, 118 hours before
- Departed: PAE, EVERETT, WA
- Destination: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,300 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MFR, 64 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 19870304007809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870304007809A), Mar 4, 1987: Mooney M20J, Weed, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Proceeded into area of known severe turbulence. Crash vertically on mountainside. Airframe was distorted in flight.

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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