Mooney M20K accident near Sylmar, CA
On March 13, 2020, a Mooney M20K (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sylmar, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 13, 2020
- Place
- Sylmar, CA
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.331°N, 118.526°W
- NTSB ID
- 20200313X13202
Official records · WPR20FA108
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Air Traffic Control Communication Summary: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn March 13, 2020, about 1447 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20K, N777WP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sylmar, California. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight departed Soutwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH), Oregon, about 1040 and was destined for Van Nuys Airport (VNY), California. Review of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data and air traffic control communications between the pilot and the Van Nuys Air Traffic Control Tower controller revealed that, the pilot initially advised the controller he was inbound on the instrument landing system (ILS) at 1443:22. The airplane was aligned on the localizer course to runway 16R at that time (see figure 1). Between 1443:24 and 1444:39, the track shifted right and left of the localizer course, while descending from 4,281 ft mean sea level (msl) to 3,563 ft msl. The controller cleared the pilot to land on runway 16R, and reported wind from 140°, at 7 knots. At 1444:44, the data showed that while in the vicinity of the final approach fix, a right turn to a west-southwesterly heading, until 1445:02, when a left turn to southerly heading was made, at an altitude of 3,163 ft msl. At 1445:02, the controller queried the pilot, advising them they were deviating to the west and at a low altitude, to which the pilot responded they were on course and level. About 14 seconds later, the data showed a right turn to a westerly heading at a
Probable cause
The pilot’s spatial disorientation during an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in loss of control of the airplane.
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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.
