History of Flight
On October 9, 2013, about 1445 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20E, registration N7145U, collided with terrain near Julian, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed by impact forces. The cross-country personal flight departed Palm Springs, California, at 1404 with a planned destination of Gillespie Field, El Cajon, California, about 65 miles south of Palm Springs over mountainous terrain. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the nearest reporting station, and no flight plan was filed.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the pilot was receiving VFR flight following from Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZLA). After departing Palm Springs, the pilot contacted Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT). He stated his intention to fly toward Thermal, California, then proceed to Gillespie if weather permitted VFR landing. He advised climbing to 8,500 feet msl; SCT cleared him on own navigation to contact ZLA. At 1416:12, the pilot established contact with ZLA at 7,300 feet over Thermal. About 13 minutes later, the pilot informed ZLA that he experienced turbulence at 8,500 feet and had descended to 4,500 feet. The controller noted high terrain; the pilot stated familiarity with the area and ability to maintain terrain clearance.
At 1433:27, ZLA cleared the pilot to switch to SCT, which he acknowledged. Five minutes later, SCT contacted ZLA to confirm contact; ZLA had none, and SCT reported no radio contact and lost radar contact. At 1440:52, SCT reestablished radar contact but not radio contact. Radar contact was lost again at 1445:51, with the target turning eastbound at 4,500 feet and 5 miles south of Julian.
An alert notice was issued by ZLA at 1706. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department was notified at 1818. Helicopters from the Sheriff's ASTREA division searched but abandoned due to unsafe conditions. Ground units used cell phone signal analysis and located the airplane near the last radar target on the side of Volcan Mountain at 0115 on October 10, 2013. The wreckage was on a 50 percent grade at elevation 4,200 feet and had fragmented.
Personnel Information
The pilot, aged 55, held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He possessed a third-class medical certificate issued January 16, 2012, with limitations requiring corrective lenses for near and distant vision. Logbook entries indicated an estimated total flight time of 881 hours as of August 12, 2013, with 7 hours in the previous 90 days and 226 hours in this make and model. He completed a biennial flight review on March 1, 2012.
Aircraft Information
The Mooney M20E, serial number 384, was equipped with a Lycoming IO-360-A1A engine, serial number L-800-51. Logbooks were not available.
Meteorological Information
Ramona Airport, California (17 nm southwest of the accident site) reported at 1443 PDT: wind 230° at 9 knots, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, broken at 3,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet, temperature 14°C, dew point 9°C, altimeter 29.78 inches. At 1453 PDT: wind 250° at 12 knots gusting 18 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken at 2,500 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet, temperature 14°C, dew point 9°C, altimeter 29.78 inches.
San Diego Montgomery Field (8 nm west of destination) reported at 1400 PDT special: wind 230° at 14 knots gusting 19 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken at 2,900 feet, overcast at 4,600 feet, temperature 17°C, dew point 9°C, altimeter 29.80 inches. At 1453 PDT: wind 180° at 13 knots gusting 17 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken at 2,700 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet, temperature 17°C, dew point 9°C, altimeter 29.78 inches.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy by the County of San Diego Coroner ruled the cause of death as blunt force injuries. The FAA Forensic Toxicology Research Team tested pilot specimens. No carbon monoxide or volatiles were found; cyanide tests were not performed. Detected drugs included atenolol in blood and urine, diphenhydramine (0.032 ug/ml) in blood and urine, ranitidine in urine but not blood, and salicylate (53.7 ug/ml) in urine. Atenolol is a prescription beta-blocker (Tenormin). Ranitidine is an antacid (Zantac). Salicylate is a byproduct of aspirin metabolism. Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine (Benadryl) with warnings against hazardous tasks.
Tests and Research
NTSB and Lycoming investigators examined the wreckage on October 23, 2013. They observed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction of the recovered airframe or engine.