# NTSB LAX87IA326: Mooney M20C, N5826Q, Los Angeles, CA, September 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 1987, 20:55 local (Sep 8, 1987, 03:55 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 34.069816, -118.309997 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0698&lon=-118.3100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 1, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25440
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87IA326
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25440/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87IA326

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - gear down and locked - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT BEFORE LANDING, HE WENT THRU THE LANDING CHECKLIST, BUT THE GREEN GEAR LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. HE CONTD THE LANDING, & SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN & CAME TO REST WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED WHEN THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN. THE GEAR HANDLE WAS FOUND IN THE UP (RETRACTED) POSITION. AFTER THE ACFT WAS RAISED, THE GEAR WOULD EXTEND & OPERATE NORMALLY. POLICE SUSPECTED THE PLT WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. A TEST SHOWED HE HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.089%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5826Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5826Q), registered now, S/N 3122, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3122
- Airframe hours: 1905
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James L. Mccoy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 5, 1986, 20 hours before
- Departed: L35, BIG BEAR CITY, CA
- Airport: WHP, Whiteman, runway 30, 3,725 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 617 total, 204 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BUR

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19870907076999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870907076999I), Sep 7, 1987: Mooney M20C, Los Angeles, CA, Minor damage. Landed gear up after erratic pattern. Pilot arrested for fwi, drugs and a loaded weapon on board aircraft.

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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