# NTSB LAX87FA335: Mooney M20J, N3551H, Dublin, CA, September 14, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 13, 1987, 21:29 local (Sep 14, 1987, 04:29 UTC)
- Place: Dublin, CA
- Coordinates: 37.649143, -121.850822 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6491&lon=-121.8508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25426
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA335
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25426/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA335

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue(flight schedule), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue(lack of sleep), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD FLOWN 5.6 HOURS DURING THE DAY, STARTING THE FIRST FLIGHT ABOUT 0600. ATC CONTROLLERS STATED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT FOLLOW THE CLEARANCE ISSUED TO HIM. THE CONTROLLERS THEN ISSUED RADAR VECTORS. THE INSTRUCTOR THE PILOT FLEW WITH EARLIER IN THE DAY STATED THAT HE HAD SUGGESTED TO THE PILOT THAT HE SPEND THE NIGHT AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT BUT THE PILOT DECIDED TO DEPART. DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT HE WAS TIRED AND WASN'T DOING TOO WELL. THE CONTROLLER STATED LATER THAT THE PILOT HAD TROUBLE FOLLOWING THE VECTORS GIVEN TO HIM. SHORTLY AFTER THE PILOTACKNOWLEDGED CLEARANCE FOR THE ILS THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN HEADING 180 DEGREES AWAY FROM THE INBOUND LOC COURSE. THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK SHOWED ONLY 8 HOURS OF ACTUAL INSTRUMENT TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3551H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3551H-1993-10-26), registration cancelled 1993-10-26, S/N 241037 (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: 241037
- Airframe hours: 1407
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cal. Pacific Associates Inc.
- Registered owner: Bauer, Bruce J.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 1987, 6 hours before
- Departed: CCR, CONCORD, CA
- Destination: OAK, OAKLAND, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: OAK, Oakland, runway 27R, 5,453 × 150 ft, asphalt

## 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; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 352 total, 243 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OAK, 11 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 19870913053079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870913053079A), Sep 13, 1987: Mooney M20J, Oakland, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot fatigued from all day mountain flying training and low IFR time, lost control on ILS approach and crashed.

## Other investigations on N3551H (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 BFO93WA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93WA144), Aug 8, 1993: Mooney M20J (N3551H), Celle-Arloh, Germany, destroyed, 3 fatal

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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