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Accidents · NTSB LAX03CA203 · Final report

Mooney M20J accident near Lincoln, California, June 12, 2003

On June 12, 2003 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N1156N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lincoln, California (Lincoln Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 12, 2003 · about 6:40 pm local time · cases in 2003
Place
Lincoln, California · Lincoln Regional Airport · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
Registration
N1156N · registry record · serial 24-1251
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot stated that he failed to lower the landing gear because he was distracted by other aircraft in the pattern. He did not notice the gear up warning horn or that the aircraft was handling differently. There were no preimpact mechanical problems noted with the airplane.

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: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 939 hours in all; 328 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: July 11, 2001
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,940.2 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 2002; 93 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: LHM Lincoln CA
  • Destination: LHM Lincoln CA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 15, 6,001 ft by 100 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
  • Visibility: 8 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
  • Observation at 6:30 pm from AUN, 12 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX03CA203.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.