Mooney M20K accident near Bakersfield, California, May 5, 1998
On May 5, 1998 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N231BY, was destroyed in an accident near Bakersfield, California. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's operation of the airplane at a speed well in excess of it's designed never exceed speed that resulted in elevator flutter and in-flight failure of the airplane. Turbulence and icing conditions were factors in the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1998 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N231BY · no longer on the register · serial 25-0115
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While descending for an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, the airplane's airspeed exceeded its never exceed velocity (Vne) of 196 knots. The elevators fluttered and separated from the airplane. Thereafter, the stabilizers departed, the nose pitched downward, and both wings failed in a negative direction. A ground witness heard a 'pop' sound, and observed airplane parts falling from the low clouds; the surface winds were reported by the witness as gusty. Earlier during the flight, the pilot had been cruising about 19,000 feet, and tracking in a southerly direction at 191 knots (ground speed). The winds aloft were westerly. While communicating with flight watch and radar controllers, he indicated that his airplane was not equipped with deicing equipment. The pilot was advised that icing conditions existed between 13,000 and 15,000 feet, and the freezing level was 7,000 feet. Due to traffic, at 0923 the controller cleared the pilot to descend to 15,000 feet. The pilot accepted the clearance, and requested a clearance to divert to a nearby airport. The controller approved the request. During the last 24 seconds of radar-recorded flight, the airplane's rate of descent increased to 3,500 feet per minute, and over its southerly course its ground speed increased to 240 knots. Shortly after this at 0930:21, the sound of an emergency locator beacon was recorded in the radar control facility. Pilot reports covering the area of the accident around the time of the event reported light to moderate turbulence and light to moderate rime/clear icing conditions. Engineering analysis and testing by the airframe manufacturer predicted the onset of flutter to occur at 241 knots. The airplane was modified by the installation of a larger engine with 95 additional horsepower available.
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: 350 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 276 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,744 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1997; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 3:02 pm
- Destination: L45 CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from BFL, 14 miles away
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.