Mooney M20B accident near Santa Paula, California, November 21, 1993
On November 21, 1993 at about 3:15 am local time, a Mooney M20B, registered N6405Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Paula, California (Santa Paula airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES PROHIBITING NIGHT OPERATIONS AT THE AIRPORT AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH. THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 1993 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Santa Paula, California · Santa Paula · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20B · all M20Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6405Q · no longer on the register · serial 670145
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A NIGHT VISUAL FLIGHT RULES PERSONAL FLIGHT AT HIS HOME AIRPORT. THE AIRPORT IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A RUNWAY/AIRPORT LIGHTING SYSTEM AND NIGHT OPERATIONS ARE PROHIBITED. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT BECAME DISTRACTED BY TWO AUTOMOBILES NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THIS DISTRACTION CAUSED THE PILOT TO DESCEND BELOW THE NORMAL GLIDE PATH. WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED HE WAS TOO LOW, HE BEGAN A GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING STRUCK A POWER POLE GUY WIRE AS IT BEGAN TO CLIMB.
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: 326 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 326 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 19, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WHP Pacoima CA at 2:55 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,650 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.