Mooney M20 accident near Little River, California, July 13, 1991
On July 13, 1991 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Mooney M20, registered N999LM, was destroyed in an accident near Little River, California (Little River airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY INDUCING A STALL SPIN CONDITION WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM THE SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1991 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Little River, California · Little River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20 · all M20s on the register
- Registration
- N999LM · registry record · serial 1148
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT CALLED UNICOM FOR LANDING INSTRUCTIONS. THE AIRPORT MANAGER TOLD THE PILOT THAT RUNWAY 29 WAS IN USE AND TO ENTER LEFT TRAFFIC FOR THAT RUNWAY. HE ALSO TOLD THE PILOT THAT THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 500 FEET OVERCAST. THE PILOT CALLED FROM 5 MILES OUT AND WAS AGAIN TOLD TO ENTER LEFT TRAFFIC FOR RUNWAY 29. THE PILOT'S AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN SPINNING TO THE GROUND FROM ABOUT 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED THAT THE PROPELLER EXHIBITED PHYSICAL DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH A PROPELLER UNDER POWER.
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: 450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 753 Hillsboro OR at 6:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,249 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.