Mooney M20C accident near Edgewood, New Mexico, December 26, 2008
On December 26, 2008 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N1216X, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Edgewood, New Mexico (Sandia Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power while at cruise altitude for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 2008 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Edgewood, New Mexico · Sandia Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1216X · no longer on the register · serial 2619
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was at a cruise altitude of 12,000 feet in instrument meteorological conditions on an instrument-flight-rules flight plan when he experienced a total loss of engine power 6 minutes after switching fuel tanks. The pilot initiated an emergency descent and broke out of the clouds at approximately 300 feet above the ground and landed in a clearing with the landing gear retracted. The airplane slid approximately 300 feet and impacted a fence. The pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 348 hours in all; 348 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 303 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,586 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 25, 2008; 4,586 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSJT San Angelo TX at 3:32 pm
- Destination: KABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; a few clouds at 500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from KABQ, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.