Mooney M20E accident near Julian, CA

On October 9, 2013, a Mooney M20E (airplane) was involved in an accident near Julian, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

October 9, 2013

Place

Julian, CA

Aircraft

Mooney M20E · Airplane

Injuries

2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

33.163°N, 116.960°W

NTSB ID

20131010X04640

Official records · WPR14FA012

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• Air Traffic Control Transcripts: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Recorded Air Traffic Control Radar Data (Plot): Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 9, 2013, about 1445 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20E, N7145U, collided with terrain near Julian, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed from impact forces. The cross-country personal flight departed Palm Springs, California, at 1404, with a planned destination of Gillespie Field, El Cajon, California, which was about 65 miles south of Palm Springs with mountainous terrain in between. Visual meteorological (VMC) conditions prevailed at the reporting station nearest to the accident site, and no flight plan had been filed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the pilot was receiving visual flight rules (VFR) flight following from Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZLA). The pilot contacted Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT) after departing Palm Springs. He stated that the intention was to fly toward Thermal, California, which was southeast of Palm Springs, and proceed to Gillespie if the weather permitted him to land VFR. He advised that he was climbing to 8,500 feet msl; SCT advised him to proceed on his own navigation, and contact ZLA. At 1416:12, the pilot established contact with ZLA at 7,300 feet over Thermal. About 13 minutes later after an inquiry from ZLA, the pilot informed them that he experienced turbulence at 8,500, and had descended to 4,500 feet. The controller informed him that he was in an area of hi

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering to avoid clouds in mountainous terrain.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.