# NTSB LAX87LA082: Mooney M20C, N6864U, Spring Valley, CA, January 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 12, 1987, 10:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Spring Valley, CA
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25501
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25501/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA082

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - lubricating system,oil magnetic plug - separation (cause)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fluid,oil - loss,total (cause)
  - engine assembly - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - vehicle (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A MOONEY M20C COLLIDED WITH AN AUTOMOBILE DURING LANDING ROLL AFTER LANDING ON A ROAD. THE PLT INDICATED THAT WHILE CRUISING AT 3,500 FT MSL HE NOTICED THE ENG OIL PRESSURE FALL TO ZERO. THE CONSTANT SPEED PROPELLOR SIMULTANEOUSLY WENT TO LOW PITCH, FOLLOWED BY THE ENG SEIZING. THE PLT WAS FORCED TO LAND AND SELECTED A ROAD TO LAND ON. ON FINAL APPROACH THE PLT OBSERVED TWO AUTOMOBILES HAD DRIVEN INTO HIS PLANNED LANDING AREA. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE PLT WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE FIRST AUTOMOBILE, BUT COLLIDED WITH THE SECOND. THE ACFT LEFT WING WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED IN THE COLLISION. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS ALSO DAMAGED AND ITS DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT ENG REVEALED THE ENG OIL DRAIN PLUG WAS MISSING WITH NO EVIDENCE OF IT BEING SAFETY WIRED. THE ENG HAD COMPLETED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION 4 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND HAD ACCUMULATED 2.9 HOURS OF OPERATION SINCE A MAJOR OVERHAUL. THIS WAS THE ACFTS SECOND FLIGHT SINCE THE ENG WAS OVERHAULED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6864U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6864U), registered now, S/N 2568 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2568
- Airframe hours: 2926
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Depuy, Robert V.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 8, 1987, 3 hours before
- Departed: L39, RAMONA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,289 total, 2,730 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Observed at: MYF, 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 19870112000299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870112000299A), Jan 12, 1987: Mooney M20C, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. The engine seized and the aircraft hit a car during landing on a road. Oil drain plug missing after engine overhaul

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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