- Date
- May 2, 1991, 12:33 local (19:33 UTC)
- Place
- Quincy, CA
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9624MMooney M20F
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 8, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910502014069A
- Case key
- 26996
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent flight into IMC and thereafter his failure to maintain directional control of his airplane. Factors which contributed to the accident related to the pilot's improper weather evaluation which resulted in his delayed emergency procedure, disorientation after entering clouds and rain, and to his lack of recent flying experience and experience in the model of airplane.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt planned a nonstop flt fm WA to CA, & he recd preflt weather briefings showing generally VFR conditions. Enroute, the plt amended his route & landed at klamath falls, OR. During rollout the acft nearly veered off the side of the rwy. The plt told ATC he needed a rest stop & he had had a flap problem. Witnesses reported the plt looked "nervous, undecided & bewildered." The plt continued his s-bnd circling route of flt which placed teh acft over the western slopes of the sierra Nevada mtns at ele over 7000 ft MSL. 40 mi west lay the central valley of CA, ele 300 ft MSL. While cruising at 13,000 ft the plt reversed course & disappeared fm radar. The acft crashed inverted into 4900 ft MSL terrain, abt 1.5 fm its last radar position. Witnesses reported it was raining heavily & lightning was visible. The plt had not logged any inst flt time in 19 yrs. His total time was 88 hrs. His total PIC time in the acft (which he had purchased 3 wks before the accident) was 0.5 hrs.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9624M
- Reported as
- Mooney M20F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- M20F
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A1A, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- James I./Michele G. Johnson
- Registered owner
- James I./Michele G. Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- LMT · Klamath Falls, OR
- Destination
- MOD · Modesto, CA
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 88 total · 8 in this make and model · 46 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.