Big Bear City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Big Bear, California 92314
Saturday, November 15, 1997 6:59 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-instrument rated pilot performed a preflight inspection, and taxied east to the approach end of runway 26, where he made an engine run-up. Weather at the airport was reported to be 200 feet overcast, visibility 3/4 mile with fog, and the wind calm. Witnesses indicated that to the east, they observed blue sky and the rising sun, while to the west and south, they observed low clouds and restricted visibility. The pilot elected to takeoff west on runway 26. Witnesses indicated that after takeoff, the airplane climbed into the clouds, and within 60 seconds, it descended from the clouds in a steep left bank. The airplane crashed on a mountainside, 0.8 miles from the airport, while in a nose low and steep left bank attitude. Impact occurred at an elevation of about 6,850 feet; elevation of the airport was 6,748 feet. The accident occurred 10 days after the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate. Examination of the wreckage revealed evidence of oil leakage in an aft direction on the airplane's belly and on the engine's exterior. Also, a puddle of oil was found on the hangar floor, below where the engine would have been, while the airplane was parked. However, no evidence of oil starvation, overheat distress signatures, or loss of engine power were found. The attitude indicator had a history of precession. The baggage compartment door of the airplane and the pilot's lap belt were found unlatched. No maintenance logs were located. The pilot's former flight instructor (CFI) reported that the pilot had 'tinkered' with the engine to stop oil leakage. Also, the CFI characterized the pilot as being an aggressive student.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (VMC), which led to spatial disorientation, loss of aircraft control, and an uncontrolled descent into terrain. Related factors were: the adverse weather conditions, the pilot's lack of instrument experience, overconfidence of the pilot in his personal ability, and possible pilot distraction due to an unlatched baggage door, which was not properly secured during preflight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/15/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 659
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City BIG BEAR
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92314
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BIG BEAR CITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L35
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 233
Airport Elevation 6748
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 700 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 53
Weather Observation Facility ID L35
Elevation of weather observation facility 6748
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.75
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1617
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 15 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:40PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5231B
NTSB Number LAX98FA039
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mooney
Aircraft Model M20
Aircraft Series Identifier M20
Aircraft Serial Number 1094
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 20 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 92
Airframe Hours 2300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name E. C. PACIFIC, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1905 S. EASTERN AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City LAS VEGAS
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89104
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN A. MARSHALL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2301 REDLANDS DRIVE
Operator City NEWPORT BEACH
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92660
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code L35
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 658
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 5850
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --