Mooney M20J accident near Santa Ana, California, November 21, 1992
On November 21, 1992 at about 1:20 am local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N4766H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Ana, California (John Wayne Orange CO airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE, HIS IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY TECHNIQUE, AND HIS INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A STALL MUSH CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 1992 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Santa Ana, California · John Wayne Orange CO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N4766H · registry record · serial 240843
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED TWICE ON LANDING WHILE DOING TOUCH AND GO PATTERN PRACTICE OPERATIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE 'ADDED POWER, PUSHED THE YOKE AND THE RIGHT RUDDER.' THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP AND TO THE LEFT, THEN THE LEFT WING HIT THE GROUND FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT WING. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 420 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,356 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 1992; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: The Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: SNA
- Destination: SNA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:20 am from SNA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.