# NTSB OAK76DVA36: Mooney M20C, N9397V, Merced, CA, February 1, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 1, 1976
- Place: Merced, CA · MERCED, CA
- Location: 37.3114° N, 120.4704° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Merced, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3114&lon=-120.4704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 4, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 152385
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76DVA36
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76DVA36

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0162   76/2/1    MERCED,CA           MOONEY M20C         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 29, 567
        TIME - 1515                    N9397V              PX-  0  0  3  PRACTICE                  TOTAL HOURS, 93 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MERCED MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MERCED,CA                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR RETRACTED                                           TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: SWITCHES,LEVERS,CRANKING MECHANISM,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER ALIGNMENT/ADJUSTMENT
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
        REMARKS- LDG GR SAFETY SWTCH,P/N3203-00,SET AT 60MPH.SHLD BE 80MPH.GR SELECTOR SWITCH WORN,OUT OF DETENT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9397V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9397V-2018-08-18), registration cancelled 2018-08-18, S/N 700030, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (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: Substantial damage
- Airport: Merced Muni

## 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 19760201001409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760201001409A), Feb 1, 1976: Mooney M20C, Merced, CA, Substantial damage. Ldg gr safety swtch,P/N3203-00,set at 60MPH.shld be 80MPH.gr selector switch worn,out of detent.

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.