Mooney M-20J accident near Wheaton Springs, California, October 23, 2000
On October 23, 2000 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Mooney M-20J, registered N40VF, was destroyed in an accident near Wheaton Springs, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and attempted VFR flight into IMC, which resulted in the in-flight collision with mountainous terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 2000 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Wheaton Springs, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20J · all M-20Js on the register
- Registration
- N40VF · registry record · serial 24-3315
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted mountainous terrain after the instrument rated commercial pilot reported that he was in the clouds and was picking up ice during a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight. The pilot obtained an updated weather briefing at the departure airport, which advised him that VFR flight along his planned route was not recommended. A review of weather data indicated that the freezing level was at 9,536 feet msl and the bases of clouds ranged anywhere from 400 feet to 3,000 feet agl. The cloud tops in the area of the accident site were 22,000 feet. The accident site was at the 4,650-foot level of the mountain. No anomalies with the engine or airplane were noted that would have prevented their normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 67L Mesquite NV at 9:00 pm
- Destination: L18 Fallbrook CA
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft; a few clouds at 400 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 9:22 pm from LAS, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.