# NTSB LAX90FA092: Mooney M20F, N4093N, Galt, CA, February 18, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 18, 1990, 11:26 local (19:26 UTC)
- Place: Galt, CA
- Coordinates: 38.270183, -121.219009 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2702&lon=-121.2190&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26614
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26614/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA092

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FLEW INTO INSTRUMENT CONDITION, BECAUSE SPATIALLY DISORIENTATED AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. FACTOR WAS FOGGY WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH INDICATED THAT VFR FLYING ALONG HIS PROPOSED SOUTHBOUND ROUTE OF FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE PILOT FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN AND DEPARTED. AS THE PILOT FLEW SOUTHBOUND HE WAS OBSERVED BELOW THE BASE OF CLOUDS WHICH WAS AT 500 FEET AGL. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED GROUND FOG WHICH REDUCED HIS VISIBILITY. A GROUND-BASED WITNESS REPORTED THAT HIS VISIBILITY AT THE CRASH SITE WAS 1/4 MILE. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW AND RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4093N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4093N-2006-02-16), registration cancelled 2006-02-16, S/N 680173, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 680173
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: T.R. Bennett & W.A. Schmidt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1989
- Departed: SAC, SACRAMENTO, CA
- Destination: BFL, BAKERSFIELD, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; toxicology performed; flight hours: 265 total, 84 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 41 °F

## 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 19900218002259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900218002259A), Feb 18, 1990: Mooney M20F, Galt, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. VFR not advised by fss but pilot departed anyway. Observed following highway into heavy fog. Lost control.

## Other investigations on N4093N (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 OAK72DVA82](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVA82-201451), Jun 17, 1972: Mooney M-20F (N4093N), Piedra, CA, substantial damage

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.