Mooney M20A accident near China Lake, California, December 2, 2005
On December 2, 2005 at about 1:20 am local time, a Mooney M20A, registered N6004X, was substantially damaged in an accident near China Lake, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and fuel consumption calculations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 2005 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- China Lake, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20A · all M20As on the register
- Registration
- N6004X · registry record · serial 1592
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane made a hard landing on a road after losing engine power. The flight was the return leg of a long cross-country from Kansas, that included an intermediate refueling stop in New Mexico. The pilot departed the intermediate airport with 49 gallons of fuel on board and thought he had enough fuel to make it to his destination. As the flight neared the destination airport the pilot reported to the TRACON controller that he had a low fuel state. The controller suggested a closer alternate airport. While attempting to land at the alternate airport, the pilot encountered adverse weather conditions including turbulence and crosswinds that exceeded the capabilities of the airplane. He decided instead to make a forced landing on a winding and undulating road. The engine lost power at this point and the pilot switched fuel tanks. The engine restarted for about 20 seconds and then lost power again. The pilot was unable to see the rising road in the darkness and did not perform a flare. The airplane landed hard and came to rest in between the road and a ditch.
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
- Flight time: 170 hours in all; 94 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 117 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,207 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AEG Albuquerque NM at 8:00 pm
- Destination: IYK Inyokern CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
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.