Mooney M20A N6054X

Summary

On 24 September 1990 at about 02:53 local time, a Mooney M20A registered N6054X was involved in an accident near San Ysidro, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 September 1990 at 02:53

Classification

Accident

Location

San Ysidro, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

35.5509, -106.7702

Aircraft

Mooney M20A

Registration

N6054X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Carlsbad → Santa Fe

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW90FA186

2 people died.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE DURING A NIGHT VFR FLIGHT. DARKNESS AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WERE RELATED FACTORS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A FLIGHT FROM CARLSBAD, CA, TO SANTA FE, NM. WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 30 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED WOODED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. IMPACT OCCURRED AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 9200 FT & ABOUT 200 FT BELOW THE CREST OF A RIDGE LINE. LIGHTS OF THE CITY OF SANTE FE SHOULD HAVE BEEN VISIBLE TO THE PILOT FROM OVER THE CREST LINE. IMPACT HEADING WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND. THE PILOT'S LAST APPLICATION FOR A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DENIED ON 10/31/89, WHEN HE DID NOT PROVIDE ALL REQUIRED INFORMATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.