Mooney M20R accident near Van Nuys, California, June 16, 1998
On June 16, 1998 at about 12:14 pm local time, a Mooney M20R, registered N130RB, was destroyed in an accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the non-instrument rated pilot's intentional VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors were the low ceiling, drizzle, and fog.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1998 · about 12:14 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20R · all M20Rs on the register
- Registration
- N130RB · registry record · serial 29-0114
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument rated private pilot departed at dawn for a 1,300-mile cross country flight. There was no FAA record of the pilot obtaining a preflight weather briefing. The weather at the departure airport was a ceiling of 900 feet overcast with visibility 3 miles in fog and light drizzle. Radar data indicated a right climbing turn to 2,200 feet, then an abrupt maneuver followed by a rapid descent into a residential area. The airplane's gross weight was exceeded by an estimated 165 pounds. The airplane was equipped for instrument flight, including an autopilot; however, the pilot had no known instrument flight training. Post-accident airframe and engine examinations failed to find evidence of mechanical failures.
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: 4,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 3,368 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550--G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: VNY CA at 12:12 pm
- Destination: MSP Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16R, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:09 pm from VNY, 2 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX98FA199.