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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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NTSB Report

June 9, 1983 · Mooney M20J · N3894H

Death Valley, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 9, 1983
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Death Valley, CA
Aircraft
Mooney M20J
Tail Number
N3894H
Operator
Performance Aircraft
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX83FA274

THE PLT INITIATED HIS TAKEOFF FROM THE DEATH VALLEY ARPT AT ABOUT 1530 HRS ON A HOT DAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDEDWITH TREES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY & CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD ANGLED TO THE LEFT PRIOR TO REACHING THE 1000 FT MARKER. DEPRESSIONS LOCATED LEFT OF THE RWY INDICATED THAT THE ACFT HAD BECOME AIRBORNE, DEPARTED THE RWY, THEN STRUCK THE GROUND 1036 FT FROM THE APCH END OF RWY 15. THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN, CONTINUED TO THE LEFT & STRUCK AN 18 INCH MOUND OF DIRT, 1125 FT FROM THE APCH END OF THE RWY. AGAIN, THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE & STRUCK 2 MESQUITE TREES, THEN CRASHED & CAME TO REST 1380 FT FROM THE APCH END OF RWY 15, AND 230 FT EAST OF THE RWY CENTERLINE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE DID NOT LOOK AT THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. IT WAS HIS HABIT TO 'GO BY FEEL.' THE WIND HAD BEEN ERRATIC, BUT WAS LIGHT TO NON-EXISTENT MOST OF THE DAY. PREVIOUSLY, HIS LEFT LEG HAD BEEN AMPUTATED BELOW THE KNEE & HE HAD AN ARTIFICIAL LEG. HIS PLT CERTIFICATE WAS BASED ON HIS BRITISH LICENSE.

Full Narrative

THE PLT INITIATED HIS TAKEOFF FROM THE DEATH VALLEY ARPT AT ABOUT 1530 HRS ON A HOT DAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDEDWITH TREES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY & CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD ANGLED TO THE LEFT PRIOR TO REACHING THE 1000 FT MARKER. DEPRESSIONS LOCATED LEFT OF THE RWY INDICATED THAT THE ACFT HAD BECOME AIRBORNE, DEPARTED THE RWY, THEN STRUCK THE GROUND 1036 FT FROM THE APCH END OF RWY 15. THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN, CONTINUED TO THE LEFT & STRUCK AN 18 INCH MOUND OF DIRT, 1125 FT FROM THE APCH END OF THE RWY. AGAIN, THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE & STRUCK 2 MESQUITE TREES, THEN CRASHED & CAME TO REST 1380 FT FROM THE APCH END OF RWY 15, AND 230 FT EAST OF THE RWY CENTERLINE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE DID NOT LOOK AT THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. IT WAS HIS HABIT TO 'GO BY FEEL.' THE WIND HAD BEEN ERRATIC, BUT WAS LIGHT TO NON-EXISTENT MOST OF THE DAY. PREVIOUSLY, HIS LEFT LEG HAD BEEN AMPUTATED BELOW THE KNEE & HE HAD AN ARTIFICIAL LEG. HIS PLT CERTIFICATE WAS BASED ON HIS BRITISH LICENSE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:30 PDT
Nearest AirportDeath Valley (0nm N)
Runway15
Runway Length3300 ft
Runway Width70 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20J
Tail NumberN3894H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPerformance Aircraft
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A3B6D · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 40 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 10 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point36 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time22:50
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data