Mooney M-20G accident near San Jose, California, August 30, 1984
On August 30, 1984 at about 1:30 am local time, a Mooney M-20G, registered N3645N, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Jose, California (San Jose Muni 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 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
- August 30, 1984 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · San Jose Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20G · all M-20Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3645N · no longer on the register · serial 680024
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RWY WAS CLOSED DURING WORKING HOURS DUE TO A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WORKING IN THE AREA. WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION EFFORT ENDED THE RWY WAS OPENED FOR USE. AFTER TOWER CLEARANCE WAS ISSUED THE ACFT LANDED AND CONTACTED A BARRICADE WITH THE LEFT WING. THE PILOT REPORTED DISCOVERING 3 BARRICADES ABOUT 6 INCHES FROM THE EDGE OF THE RWY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,138 hours in all; 495 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 1,956 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,911 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 1984; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,525 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJC at 1:25 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from SJC
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.