Mooney M20J accident near Petaluma, CA
On April 7, 2018, a Mooney M20J (airplane) was involved in an accident near Petaluma, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 7, 2018
- Place
- Petaluma, CA
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.269°N, 122.576°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180407X35303
Official records · ANC18FA028
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Summary of Radio Communications: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 6, 2018, about 1710 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20J airplane, N9133Z, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Petaluma, California. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. About 1657, the pilot contacted Flight Service to request an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance from Petaluma Municipal Airport (O69) to Fallbrook Community Airpark (L18), Fallbrook, California. The pilot reported that he would be departing runway 29 and was ready for an immediate departure. The pilot received his IFR clearance at 1700 with a void time of 1710. A pilot-rated witness familiar with operations at O69 was on the deck of the airport office monitoring the airport's common traffic frequency when he heard the accident pilot broadcast that he was taxiing to runway 29. He then observed the airplane taxi to runway 11. He stated that the airplane remained in the runway 11 runup area for about 15 minutes. About 1700, the pilot announced, "Petaluma traffic, Mooney departing Runway 29"; the witness then transmitted "Runway 11" to which the pilot replied, "Thank you. I appreciate the help." He observed the airplane depart runway 11 and climb to an altitude about 300 ft above ground level before initiating a shallow left turn and disappearing into the fog. The witness reported that there were no unusual sounds from the airplane during the takeoff and that the engine sounded strong, smooth, and normal. Another witness reported that the accident airplane landed at
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while departing in instrument meteorological conditions, moderate turbulence, and low-level wind shear, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
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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.
