Mooney M20K accident near Patterson, California, September 22, 1983
On September 22, 1983 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N231GJ, was destroyed in an accident near Patterson, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- September 22, 1983 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Patterson, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N231GJ · no longer on the register · serial 25-0234
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO RISING TERRAIN IN A SEMI-BOX CANYON IN THE DIABLO RANGE. THE CRASH SITE WAS AT AN ELEVATION OF APRX 1200 FT MSL. THE CANYON TOPS RANGED FROM 1500 TO 1700 FT. ACCORDING TO A FARMER RESIDING 2 MI WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AT 200 FT MSL, THE 0830 PDT WX WAS FOGGY & RAINY, MOUNTAIN TOPS OBSCURED, WINDS GUSTY FROM THE NORTHWEST. THE IMPACT OCCURRED ON STEEP TERRAIN WITH AN ESTIMATED UPWARD SLOPE OF 60 DEG. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE PLT WAS INSTRUMENT RATED, BUT DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN. NO RECORD WAS FOUND OF A PREFLT WX BRIEFING.
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: 1,836 hours in all; 1,285 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,756 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 469 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 23, 1982; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360GB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 103 Lodi CA at 8:10 am
- Destination: VIS Visalia CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
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.