Mooney M20J accident near Avalon, CA
On October 20, 2008, a Mooney M20J (airplane) was involved in an accident near Avalon, CA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 20, 2008
- Place
- Avalon, CA
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.401°N, 118.422°W
- NTSB ID
- 20081020X74013
Official records · WPR09FA019
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 20, 2008, about 1315 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N201EN, collided with descending terrain during takeoff from runway 22 at the Catalina Airport, Avalon, California. The certificated private pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and two passengers were killed; one passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was destroyed by post impact fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight departed Catalina with a planned destination of Corona Municipal Airport, Corona, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The passenger reported that the outbound flight departed from John Wayne-Orange County Airport, Santa Ana, California, on October 17, 2009, about 1430. He did not notice anything unusual about the takeoff roll, but noted that the runway was longer than Catalina. He further stated that the flight to Catalina was uneventful. The pilot and passengers then remained in the Catalina area for the next 3 days. The passenger reported that during the trip the pilot appeared in good spirits, and did not appear to be suffering from any medical ailments. For the accident flight, he reported the ground roll to be slower and "labored" when compared to the flight to Catalina, and that the airplane seemed to be, "going and going" on the runway surface. The airplane then took off and immediately began to "wobble." About the runway midpoint he sensed the airplane begin to sl
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff while sufficient runway remained to stop.
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Browse: California · Mooney aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
