Mooney M-20C accident near Hyampom, California, March 29, 1994
On March 29, 1994, a Mooney M-20C, registered N4045N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hyampom, California (Hyampom airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES BY ASSURING THAT THE LANDING GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM WAS PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 1994
- Place
- Hyampom, California · Hyampom · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20C · all M-20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N4045N · registry record · serial 680025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY ENGAGE THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE IN THE EXTENDED POSITION LOCKING MECHANISM. DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE DISLODGED FROM THE LOCKING MECHANISM AND THE LANDING GEARS RETRACTED. THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE LANDING GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM OPERATED NORMALLY.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,566 hours in all; 1,519 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,770 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1993; 217 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q72 Hayfork CA
- Destination: Q75
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,980 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.