# NTSB OAK71AP042: Mooney M20C, N7859V, San Andreas, CA, May 4, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 4, 1971
- Place: San Andreas, CA · SAN ANDREAS, CA
- Location: 38.1927° N, 120.6732° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Andreas, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1927&lon=-120.6732&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 16, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 161120
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK71AP042
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK71AP042

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0376   71/5/4    SAN ANDREAS,CALIF   MOONEY M20C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 6326
        TIME - 0432                    N7859V              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 70 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CALAVERAS COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN ANDREAS,CALIF           SAN FRANCISCO,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- CLNC READ VFR TO FIX,THEN IFR TO DEST. HIT SLOPE OF 2500 FT MTN AT NITE PRIOR TO VOR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7859V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7859V-1971-10-13), registration cancelled 1971-10-13, S/N 2822 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Calaveras County

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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