Mooney M20J and Cessna 182R accident near Fullerton, California, April 4, 1987
On April 4, 1987 at about 8:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Mooney M20J (N5690N) and Cessna 182R (N5456N), were involved in the same accident near Fullerton, California (Fullerton airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were 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
- April 4, 1987 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N5690N · registry record · serial 24-1406
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5456N · registry record · serial 18267727
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Mooney M20J final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE HOLDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY BEHIND A CESSNA 182R, THE PILOT OF A MOONEY M20J, REACHED OVER TO TIGHTEN HIS FOUR YEAR OLD SONS SEATBELT. THE PILOTS FOOT CAME OFF THE TOE BRAKE AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED FORWARD AND COLLIDED WITH THE CESSNA.
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 Cessna 182R final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE HOLDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY BEHIND A CESSNA 182R, THE PILOT OF A MOONEY M20J, REACHED OVER TO TIGHTEN HIS FOUR YEAR OLD SONS SEATBELT. THE PILOTS FOOT CAME OFF THE TOE BRAKE AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED FORWARD AND COLLIDED WITH THE CESSNA.
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 M20J from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 204 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 204 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 245° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from FUL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 182R from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,031 hours in all; 367 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1,009 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,681 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 17, 1986; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.