Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Patterson, California 92283
Thursday, September 22, 1983 8:40 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO RISING TERRAIN IN A SEMI-BOX CANYON IN THE DIABLO RANGE. THE CRASH SITE WAS AT AN ELEVATION OF APRX 1200 FT MSL. THE CANYON TOPS RANGED FROM 1500 TO 1700 FT. ACCORDING TO A FARMER RESIDING 2 MI WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AT 200 FT MSL, THE 0830 PDT WX WAS FOGGY & RAINY, MOUNTAIN TOPS OBSCURED, WINDS GUSTY FROM THE NORTHWEST. THE IMPACT OCCURRED ON STEEP TERRAIN WITH AN ESTIMATED UPWARD SLOPE OF 60 DEG. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE PLT WAS INSTRUMENT RATED, BUT DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN. NO RECORD WAS FOUND OF A PREFLT WX BRIEFING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/22/1983
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 840
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City PATTERSON
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92283
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Heavy
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1017
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21325
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N231GJ
NTSB Number LAX83FA456
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 M20K
Aircraft Series Identifier M20K
Aircraft Serial Number 25-0234
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Oct 23 1982 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 64
Airframe Hours 469
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES C. MCGLADDERY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 604 WILLOW GLEN DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City LODI
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95240
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code 103
Departure City LODI
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 810
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code VIS
Destination City VISALIA
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --