# NTSB WPR22LA097: Mooney M20J, N201VJ, Paradise, CA, February 9, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 9, 2022, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Paradise, CA
- Coordinates: 39.705681, -121.61675
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7057&lon=-121.6167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104643
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104643/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104643
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA097

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath which resulted in a collision with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while making an approach for landing he came in too low and collided with terrain. The forward fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N201VJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201VJ-2023-11-27), registration cancelled 2023-11-27, S/N 24-0254, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-0254
- Year built: 1977
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alfred W. Brown
- Registered owner: Alfred W. Brown
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Airport: CA92, Paradise Skypark, runway 17, 3,017 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 142 total, 37 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KOVE, 13 nm away
- METAR: METAR KOVE 091653Z AUTO 34004KT 10SM CLR 12/04 A3027 RMK AO2 SLP252

## 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 20220209001539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220209001539A), Feb 9, 2022: Mooney M20J, Paradise, CA, Substantial damage. A statement from the pilot said that he was experiencing turbulance while on approach to runway 35 at the Paradise Skypark Airport. He said that as the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104643. 1.9 MB in all.

- Record of conversation-pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13357538&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Brown_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array-courtesy of airplane owner (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13329824&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Owner-Rel.pdf

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.