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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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February 28, 1985 · Mooney M-20-E N20E · N9325M

Oceanside, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 28, 1985
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Oceanside, CA
Aircraft
Mooney M-20-E N20E
Tail Number
N9325M
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX85FA159

GND WITNESSES REPORTED THE ACFT ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING RY 24 AT OCEANSIDE MUNI ARPT OCEANSIDE, CA. WHEN THE ACFT REACHED THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RY AT AB OUT 100 FT AGL, THE PLT BEGAN A LEFT TURN. PRIOR TO COMPLETING THE TURN, THE ACFT STALLED A CRASHED INTO A BLDG LOCATED ASOUTH & ADFACENT TO RY 24. BOTH OCCUPANTS ABOARD THE ACFT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. NO PERSONS ON THE GROUND WERE INJURED. THE BLDS WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND ITS CONTENTS WERE DISTROYED. DISASSEMBLY EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NO. 1 CYL SPARK PLUGS WERE NOT FIREING AND THAT THE NO. 3 CYL PISTON COMPRESSION RING WAS BROKEN & THE UPPER SPARK PLUG WAS OIL SOAKED. THE ABSCENCE OF RING PAR- TICLES IN THE OITL FILTER INDICATED THE RING BROKE DURING THE ACCIDENT FLT. SEVERAL CRANKSHAFT & CON ROD BEARINGS SHOWED HIGH TEMP DISTRESS. MOST OF THE OIL PASSAGE HOLES WERE PARTIALLY BLOCKED BY THE BEARINGS. THE CRANKSHAFT WAS PUSHED REARWARD. THE MAINT LOGS REVEAL TWO PRIOR PROP GND CONTACT. THE ENG HAD NOT BEEN OVHLD & HAD ACCUM MORE THAN 1868 HRS.

Full Narrative

GND WITNESSES REPORTED THE ACFT ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING RY 24 AT OCEANSIDE MUNI ARPT OCEANSIDE, CA. WHEN THE ACFT REACHED THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RY AT AB OUT 100 FT AGL, THE PLT BEGAN A LEFT TURN. PRIOR TO COMPLETING THE TURN, THE ACFT STALLED A CRASHED INTO A BLDG LOCATED ASOUTH & ADFACENT TO RY 24. BOTH OCCUPANTS ABOARD THE ACFT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. NO PERSONS ON THE GROUND WERE INJURED. THE BLDS WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND ITS CONTENTS WERE DISTROYED. DISASSEMBLY EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NO. 1 CYL SPARK PLUGS WERE NOT FIREING AND THAT THE NO. 3 CYL PISTON COMPRESSION RING WAS BROKEN & THE UPPER SPARK PLUG WAS OIL SOAKED. THE ABSCENCE OF RING PAR- TICLES IN THE OITL FILTER INDICATED THE RING BROKE DURING THE ACCIDENT FLT. SEVERAL CRANKSHAFT & CON ROD BEARINGS SHOWED HIGH TEMP DISTRESS. MOST OF THE OIL PASSAGE HOLES WERE PARTIALLY BLOCKED BY THE BEARINGS. THE CRANKSHAFT WAS PUSHED REARWARD. THE MAINT LOGS REVEAL TWO PRIOR PROP GND CONTACT. THE ENG HAD NOT BEEN OVHLD & HAD ACCUM MORE THAN 1868 HRS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:02 PST
Nearest AirportOceanside (1nm SW)
Runway24
Runway Length3061 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M-20-E N20E
Tail NumberN9325M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 500
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 39 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 5 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingOvercast 1000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data