# NTSB LAX88FA297: Mooney M20J, N5769Y, Inyokern, CA, August 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 23, 1988, 20:58 local (Aug 24, 1988, 03:58 UTC)
- Place: Inyokern, CA
- Coordinates: 35.880802, -118.149452 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8808&lon=-118.1495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25857
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA297
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25857/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA297

## Probable cause

PILOTS INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER ENCOUNTERING A LEVEL FOUR THUNDERSTORM ON A NIGHT VFR CROSS COUNTRY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WEATHER REPORTS FROM A NEARBY AIRPORT AND WITNESS OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT A LEVEL 4 THUNDERSTORMS WAS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE AS THE ACFT APPROACHED. THE PLT DID NOT OBTAIN A PREFLT WX BRIEFING FOR THIS NIGHT VFR CROSS COUNTRY. THE WX INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THE TIME HE DEPARTED CLEARLY NOTED THE THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTENING PRESENT ON HIS ROUTE. RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT TRACKING ALONG A HIGHWAY WITH THE MODE C REPORTING ERRATIC ALTITUDE JUMPS. THE RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT TURN RIGHT TIGHTLY AND DESCEND AT A RAPID RATE. EVIDENCE AT THE SITE SHOWED THE ACFT CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A 60 DEGREE RIGHT BANK TURN WITH THE NOSE DOWN AT ABOUT 40 DEGREES AND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE PLT WAS NOT CURRENT FOR NIGHT FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5769Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5769Y-1991-04-11), registration cancelled 1991-04-11, S/N 241496 (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: 24-1496
- Airframe hours: 1632
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Flightworks Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Adam R. Felde
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 30, 1988, 32 hours before
- Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Destination: MMH, MAMMOTH, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 488 total, 297 in this make and model, 260 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 90° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: NID, 14 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 19880823035329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880823035329A), Aug 23, 1988: Mooney M20J, Inyokern, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into a thunderstorm at night. Lost control and impacted desert at high rate of speed. Was advised of weather.

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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