Mooney M20C accident near Warner Springs, California, January 8, 2003
On January 8, 2003 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N5629Q, was destroyed in an accident near Warner Springs, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's loss of control during flight as a result of incapacitation due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 2003 · about 7:00 pm local time · cases in 2003
- Place
- Warner Springs, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5629Q · registry record · serial 3104
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with mountainous terrain covered with brushy vegetation. Examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. The coroner determined that the manner of death of the pilot was natural, resulting from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,079 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 6:27 pm
- Destination: L08 Borrego Springs CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from RNM, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5629Q on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Mooney M-20 6,246 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Mooney 5,395 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-360-A1D 1,057 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Fullerton Municipal · departed from
- Borrego Valley Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,897 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX03FA061.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.