# NTSB OAK76AP035: Mooney M20A, N8120E, Stockton, CA, December 28, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 28, 1975
- Place: Stockton, CA · STOCKTON, CA
- Location: 37.9577° N, 121.2908° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Stockton, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9577&lon=-121.2908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 19, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 152059
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76AP035
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76AP035

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4096  75/12/28 NR.STOCKTON,CA        MOONEY M20A         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 1175
        TIME - 1605                    N8120E              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         STOCKTON,CA                  CONCORD,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (OWNER PERSONNEL)
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: RUDDER SURFACES,ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DETERIORATED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- INFLIGHT FAILURE OF VERTICAL FIN AND RUDDER.EVIDENCE OF ROT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8120E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8120E-2018-07-26), registration cancelled 2018-07-26, S/N 1391, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20A
- Registry model: [Mooney M20A](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20a) (registry code 5870204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19751228041239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19751228041239A), Dec 28, 1975: Mooney M20D, Stockton, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Inflight failure of vertical fin and rudder. Evidence of rot.

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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