Mooney M20B N6405Q
21 November 1993 · Santa Paula, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 21 November 1993 at about 03:15 local time, a Mooney M20B registered N6405Q, operated by Hellner, John F., was involved in an accident near Santa Paula, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 03:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Santa Paula, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Santa Paula (SZP)
- Coordinates
- 34.3990, -119.0696
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20B
- Registration
- N6405Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Hellner, John F.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Pacoima → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- LAX94LA055
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES PROHIBITING NIGHT OPERATIONS AT THE AIRPORT AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH. THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A NIGHT VISUAL FLIGHT RULES PERSONAL FLIGHT AT HIS HOME AIRPORT. THE AIRPORT IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A RUNWAY/AIRPORT LIGHTING SYSTEM AND NIGHT OPERATIONS ARE PROHIBITED. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT BECAME DISTRACTED BY TWO AUTOMOBILES NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THIS DISTRACTION CAUSED THE PILOT TO DESCEND BELOW THE NORMAL GLIDE PATH. WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED HE WAS TOO LOW, HE BEGAN A GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING STRUCK A POWER POLE GUY WIRE AS IT BEGAN TO CLIMB.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mooney M20B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct 1993 | Mooney M20B | Bethpage, Tennessee, United States | Quearry, Carlos G. | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 Aug 1993 | Mooney M20B | Landover, Maryland, United States | Thomas N Thompson | No injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 1990 | Mooney M20B | Glenwood Spring, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jan 1990 | Mooney M20B | Santa Ana, California, United States | Robley D. MC Cants | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Aug 1990 | Mooney M20B | Winfield, Kansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 31 Aug 1987 | Mooney M20B | Marlboro, New Jersey, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jul 1993 | Cessna 310H | Lancaster, California, United States | Yehiem Konski | Fatal | 6 |
| 14 Nov 1993 | Cessna 182 | Colusa, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1993 | Cessna 172P | Sun City, California, United States | Hiser Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Jul 1993 | Robinson R44 | El Monte, California, United States | Benjamin F. Venti, SR. | Fatal | 3 |
| 17 Nov 1993 | Piper PA-38-112 | Fresno, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jan 1993 | Beechcraft A35 | Tulare, California, United States | Rent and Lease Programs | Fatal | 2 |