NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 30, 2003, about 2005 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N707JH, collided with trees and terrain in Watsonville, California. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Madera Municipal Airport, Madera, California, about 1930, with a planned destination of Watsonville. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

In a written statement, a sheriff's deputy who responded to the accident stated that while the right seat passenger was in the ambulance, he spoke to him regarding the accident. The passenger reported that the airplane was based in Columbia, California, but the accident flight departed Madera about 1930, with a planned destination of Watsonville. Prior to departure, the pilot programmed the flight's intended route into the moving map display of the onboard global positioning system (GPS), as a means to navigate. After passing over mountains east of Watsonville, the pilot and passenger were unable to obtain visual contact with the airport, as it was obscured with fog. The pilot continued further west, maneuvering the airplane over the bay and then circled back to the east toward the airport. While heading east, they were searching for the lights on the golf driving range, located about 1/2 mile west of the airport. They were unable to see the lights and the airplane crashed into terrain.

During the investigation, the recorded radar data from the Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) was obtained and reviewed by a National Transportation Safety Board investigator. The radar data disclosed a target moving in a southwesterly direction about 5 miles north of the accident site from 20:00:48 to 20:01:36. During that period the radar returns show a descent from 2,300 feet mean sea level (msl) to 2,000 feet msl.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot's personal flight records were not provided to the Safety Board investigator for examination. A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records revealed that the pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating; the pilot did not hold an instrument rating. On January 18, 1999, when the pilot was last issued a third-class medical certificate, his reported total flight time was 200 hours.

METEROLOGICAL CONDITIONS

The Airport/ Facility Directory, Southwest U. S., indicated that Watsonville Municipal Airport was equipped with an Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS), which broadcast on frequency 132.175.

A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for Watsonville was issued at 1953. It stated: sky conditions 300 feet overcast; visibility 7 miles; winds from 150 degrees at 5 knots; temperature 55 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 54 degrees Fahrenheit; altimeter 29.95 inHg. At 2053, another METAR report was issued indicating: sky conditions 300 feet overcast; visibility 6 miles; mist; winds from 110 degrees at 4 knots; temperature 55 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 54 degrees Fahrenheit; altimeter 29.95 inHg.

At 1953, about 23 minutes after the airplane departed, a METAR was issued for Madera. It stated: sky conditions clear; visibility 8 miles; winds from 320 degrees at 8 knots; temperature 81 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 54 degrees Fahrenheit; altimeter 29.82 inHg.

Safety Board software calculated the sunset to occur at 1940, civil twilight began at 2006, and there was 14 percent illumination of the moon.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT

The GPS coordinates for the accident site were 36 degrees 55.31 minutes north latitude and 121 degrees 50.30 minutes west longitude. The accident site was about 2.5 miles west of the airport.

A sheriff's deputy reported that the wreckage was on a hillside covered with vegetation and trees, which was only accessible by foot. Upon arrival he noted the sky was overcast, with an approximate 500-foot above ground level (agl) cloud layer. The airplane came to rest in an oak tree, with a branch supporting both wings. The airplane was oriented in an approximate 45-degree nose down attitude and the wings were angled in an apparent 30-degree left bank. The landing gear and wing flaps were in the fully retracted position; the landing light was illuminated. At both wing roots, fuel was leaking; the leading edges were crumpled aft. Between the aft fuselage section and the tail, the airframe structure was bent. All three propeller blade tips were bent backward. A tree branch located in close proximity to the propeller was severed, with signatures of freshly removed bark.

NTSB Probable Cause

the non-instrument rated pilot's intentional continuance of VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and failure to maintain clearance with terrain.