# NTSB LAX87FA198: Mooney M20K, N231MW, Long Beach, CA, April 30, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 30, 1987, 08:28 local (15:28 UTC)
- Place: Long Beach, CA
- Coordinates: 33.81097, -118.180625 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8110&lon=-118.1806&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25399
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA198
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25399/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA198

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ON 4/28/87, AFTER A FLT FROM LONG BEACH TO LAS VEGAS, THE PLT REQUESTED THE LEFT WING TANK BE SVCD WITH 15 GAL OF FUEL; NO FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE RGT TANK. TWO DAYS LATER, THE PLT TOOK OFF ON THE RETURN FLT. DRG ARRIVAL AT LONG BEACH, HE WAS VECTORED FOR AN ILS RWY 30 APCH. WHILE ON FINAL APCH TO LAND, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT INITIATED EMERG STARTING PROCEDURES, THEN DIRECTED HIS ATTENTION TO MAKING AN EMERG LANDING. DRG THE LANDING, THE ACFT STRUCK A HIWAY RAMP SIGN &LIGHT STANDARD, THEN CRASHED ON THE ROOF OF A LARGE BLDG. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK WHICH WAS NEARLY EMPTY, BUT THE RIGHT TANK HAD APRX 15 GAL REMAINING. ALTHOUGH THE LEFT TANK HAD RUPTURED,ONLY ABOUT 1.5 GAL WAS FOUND IN THE TANK & ONLY AN ESTIMATED 1.5 GAL OF FUEL HAD SPILLED. LESS THAN 3 CC OF FUEL (TOTAL)WAS FND IN THE FUEL FEED & RETURN LINES TO THE ENG DRIVEN FUEL PUMP. FOUR GAL OF FUEL IN EACH TANK WAS CONSIDERED TO BE UNUSABLE. THE PLT OPERATING HANDBOOK DIRECTED THAT FOR LANDING, THE FUEL SELECTOR BE POSITIONED TO THE FULLEST TANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231MW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231MW-2025-01-08), registration cancelled 2025-01-08, S/N 25-0200, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-0200
- Airframe hours: 1303
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-GB 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael T. Bianchi
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1986, 60 hours before
- Departed: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Destination: LGB
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LGB, Long Beach, runway 30, 10,000 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 690 total, 321 in this make and model, 638 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LGB, 1 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 19870430013169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870430013169A), Apr 30, 1987: Mooney M20K, Long Beach, CA, Substantial damage. Fuel starvation on ILS short final. Struck building. Fuel selector on empty tank. Not signed off for filing IFR.

## Other investigations on N231MW (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 CEN25LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA021), Oct 17, 2024: Mooney M20K (N231MW), Elizabeth, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to set the engine fuel mixture to the required setting, which resulted in reduced engine power during a go-around and subsequent impact with trees. Contributing to the 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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