Mooney M20C accident near Hesperia, California, April 13, 1989
On April 13, 1989 at about 8:55 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N5909Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hesperia, California (Hesperia 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 PILOT, THE OPERATOR OF THE AIRPLANE, IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED THE AIRPLANE, AND DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT PLANNING WAS POOR AND THAT HE MISJUDEGED THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1989 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Hesperia, California · Hesperia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5909Q · no longer on the register · serial 3163
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL, MECHANICAL INDUCED, ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A PRIVATELY OWNED, UNIMPROVED, AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT IMPROPERLY PLANNED THE APPROACH AND MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE, LANDED LONG AND OVERSHOT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NEITHER THE AIRPLANE NOR THE ENGINE RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WITHIN THE PRECEDING 5 YEARS. THE ENGINE OIL PUMP DRIVE GEAR FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SUSTAIN OIL STARVATION. THE FRACTURED SURFACES DISPLAYED FATIGUE CHARACTERISTICS.
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: 195 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 101 Llano CA at 8:25 pm
- Destination: L67 Rialto CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.