Mooney M20C and Piper PA-28-235 mid-air collision near Victorville, California, January 23, 1982
On January 23, 1982 at about 7:55 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Mooney M20C (N7860V) and Piper PA-28-235 (N32380), were involved in a mid-air collision near Victorville, California. 2 people were killed and 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 1982 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Victorville, California · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7860V · no longer on the register · serial 2823
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N32380 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7510020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Mooney M20C final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FLEW FROM LONG BEACH TO REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA WHERE HE PICKED UP A PASSENGER. HIS ITINERARY AFTER DEPARTING REDLANDS WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE PASSENGER WAS TO HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO REDLANDS. DURING FLIGHT, A COLLISION OCCURRED WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT, A PIPER PA-28, N32380. THE PIPER PA-28 PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ON AN EASTERLY HEADING AT 6800 FT MSL WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. IMPACT MARKINGS INDICATED THAT THE MOONEY M20C WAS ON A WEST SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING AND IN ABOUT A 20 DEGREE RIGHT BANK. THE LEFT WING OF THE MOONEY SEPARATED AND THE MOONEY CRASHED IN A STEEP DESCENT. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR OF THE PIPER WAS SHEARED OFF AND THE LEFT WING, FUSELAGE, AND PROPELLER WERE DAMAGED. HOWEVER, THE PIPER WAS LANDED AT A NEARBY ABANDONED AIRSTRIP.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-235 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD PLANNED TO FLY TO THE BIG BEAR AIRPORT, BUT CHANGED HIS DESTINATION TO APPLE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. WHILE ON AN EASTERLY HEADING AT ABOUT 6800 FT MSL, A COLLISION OCCURRED WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT, A MOONEY M20C, N7860V. THE PIPER PILOT BELIEVED THAT THE MOONEY MAY HAVE BEEN CLIMBING. IMPACT MARKINGS INDICATED THAT THE MOONEY WAS ON A WEST-SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING AND IN ABOUT A 20 DEGREE RIGHT BANK. THE LEFT WING OF THE MOONEY SEPARATED AND THE MOONEY CRASHED IN A STEEP DESCENT. THE LEFT GEAR OF THE PIPER WAS SHEARED OFF AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, THE PROPELLER, AND THE FUSELAGE. THE PIPER PILOT WAS UNABLE TO USE THE RUDDERS DUE TO INJURIES, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO LAND ON A NEARBY ABANDONED AIRSTRIP.
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 for the Mooney M20C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,930 hours in all; 1,343 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,872 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AID (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L12 Redlands CA at 9:00 am
- Destination: L12 Redlands CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 115°F (46°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from VCV, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-235 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 399 hours in all; 10 in the last 90 days; 361 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,369 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2LO Temecula CA at 11:10 am
- Destination: APV Apple Valley CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.