Mooney M-20-C accident near Santa Monica, California, January 19, 1992
On January 19, 1992 at about 1:10 am local time, a Mooney M-20-C, registered N6481U, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Monica, California (Santa Monica Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL CONTAMINATION BY WATER DUE TO THE; 1) FAILURE OF THE FUEL CAPS TO PROPERLY SEAL AGAINST WATER INGESTION, 2) THE PILOTS FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PERFORM A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT SUFFICIENT TO DETECT THE PRESENCE OF WATER IN THE FUEL TANKS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE INADEQUATE FUEL CAP/WELL DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THE PILOTS REDUCED ABILITY TO VISUALLY SEE AND AVOID THE POWER POLE DUE TO THE PREVAILING LIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 1992 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Santa Monica, California · Santa Monica Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20-C · all M-20-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6481U · no longer on the register · serial 2228
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 107 HR PVT PLT & PSGR DEPD THE ARPT FOR AN UNKNOWN DESTN. THE RECENTLY PURCHASED ACFT HADN'T FLOWN FOR SVRL MONTHS. THE ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE & 5.5' OF RAIN HAD FALLEN IN THE LAST 41 DAYS. THE ACFT WAS REFUELED IMMEDIATELY BFR DEPG & THE FUELER SAID THE PLT SAT INSIDE THE ACFT DRG REFUELING, READING A MAP. THE REFUELER DIDN'T SEE THE PLT MAKE A PREFLT INSPN. HE ALSO NOTED THE ACFT WAS VERY DIRTY. THE FUEL FILLER CAPS WERE OF THE THERMOS CAP STYLE, RECESSED INTO WELLS IN THE WING SFC. FAA SDR'S NOTED 20 INSTANCES OF WATER CONTAMINATION OF FUEL IN THIS MODEL ACFT DRG A PERIOD FROM 1/1/86 TO 9/10/92. OF THE 20 RPRTD INSTANCES, 4 WERE ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKAGE THRU LOOSE FUEL CAPS. DRG THE TAKEOFF & INITIAL CLIMB, THE PLT STATED TO THE TWR THAT 'MY ENGINE KEEPS CUTTING IN AND OUT.' HE WAS CLRD TO LND ON ANY RWY. THE PLT COMPLETED A 180 DEG TURN BACK TWD THE RWY & THE ACFT HIT A PWR POLE OFF THE END & BELOW THE RWY SFC. THE ACFT WAS CONSUMED BY A POST-CRASH FIRE. NO MECH MALFUNCTION/FAILURE WAS FND. SUNSET WAS AT 1712 PST.
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: 107 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 50 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,987 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:20 am from SMO, 1 miles away
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.