Mooney M20C N5909Q

Summary

On 13 April 1989 at about 20:55 local time, a Mooney M20C registered N5909Q, operated by Prinzing, Rick, was involved in an accident near Hesperia, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 April 1989 at 20:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Hesperia, California, United States

Nearest airport

Hesperia (NONE)

Coordinates

34.3606, -117.3206

Aircraft

Mooney M20C

Registration

N5909Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Prinzing, Rick

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Llano → Rialto

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89LA180

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT, THE OPERATOR OF THE AIRPLANE, IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED THE AIRPLANE, AND DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT PLANNING WAS POOR AND THAT HE MISJUDEGED THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL, MECHANICAL INDUCED, ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A PRIVATELY OWNED, UNIMPROVED, AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT IMPROPERLY PLANNED THE APPROACH AND MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE, LANDED LONG AND OVERSHOT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NEITHER THE AIRPLANE NOR THE ENGINE RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WITHIN THE PRECEDING 5 YEARS. THE ENGINE OIL PUMP DRIVE GEAR FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SUSTAIN OIL STARVATION. THE FRACTURED SURFACES DISPLAYED FATIGUE CHARACTERISTICS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.