# NTSB LAX91LA154: Mooney M-20E, N1941Y, Lee Vining, CA, April 2, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 1, 1991, 21:00 local (Apr 2, 1991, 05:00 UTC)
- Place: Lee Vining, CA
- Coordinates: 37.990936, -119.109428 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9909&lon=-119.1094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27156
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27156/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA154

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO CLEAR MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PILOT FATIGUE DUE TO A LENGTHY CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - snow covered
  - proper altitude - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue(flight schedule), pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THAT BEGAN AT ABOUT 0830 HOURS AND WAS PLANNED TO COVER ABOUT 1,300 NAUTICAL MILES.  THE PILOT DEPARTED HIS LAST FUEL STOP AT ABOUT 2000 HOURS WHERE A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT APPEARED FATIGUED.  THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT WAS OVER HIGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN THAT HAD A MINIMUM FLIGHT ELEVATION OF 13,500 FEET.  AN EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER SIGNAL WAS RECEIVED AT 0024 HOURS, LOCATED 105 MILES WEST OF THE LAST DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE WAS LOCATED BY SEARCH PERSONNEL AT 11,000 FEET AND HAD IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN SIDE IN A REMOTE AREA OF DEEP SNOW. AT THE ACCIDENT LOCATION, THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 1,000 FEET BELOW THE MOUNTAIN RIDGE LINE. THE TIME AND LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT PLACED THE AIRPLANE IN AN AREA THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY GROUND OR MOON ILLUMINATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1941Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1941Y-1991-08-02), registration cancelled 1991-08-02, S/N 248 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 248
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-AIA 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alan D. Mc Donald
- Registered owner: Alan D. Mc Donald
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000
- Departed: THP, TONOPAH, NV
- Destination: SCK, STOCKTON, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 303 total, 154 in this make and model, 175 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCE, 70 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 19910401008209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910401008209A), Apr 1, 1991: Mooney M20E, Lee Vining, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into side of snow covered mountain. Dark night. Pilot had been flying for 12 hours.

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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