Mooney M20E accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico, March 16, 1984
On March 16, 1984 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Mooney M20E, registered N7134U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico (Las Vegas airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1984 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, New Mexico · Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N7134U · registry record · serial 373
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE, THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND AT LAS VEGAS, NM & CHECK ON HIS DESTINATION WX. HE CALLED THE FSS WHEN THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 30 MI SOUTH OF LAS VEGAS & WAS ADVISED THAT THE WIND AT LAS VEGAS WAS FROM 230 DEG AT 20 KTS. HE SAID HE EXPERIENCED SEVERE TURBULENCE WHILE ON FINAL APCH FOR RWY 20. ALSO, HE SAID THAT ON FINAL, THIS AIRSPEED WAS SLIGHTLY FAST AT 90 MPH & THAT A 10 DEG CRAB WAS USED TO MAINTAIN RWY ALIGNMNENT. PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, HE USED RIGHT BANK & LEFT RUDDER. THE PLT STATED THAT JUST AS THE RIGHT WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN, A HUGE GUST BLEW THE ACFT TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY. HE ADDED POWER, BUT THE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED SAGEBRUSH. THE PLT THEN RETARDED THE POWER & THE ACFT CAME TO A STOP. THE WIND REPORTEDLY HAD GUSTED TO 30 KTS.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 183 hours in all; 124 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 140 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tuscon AZ at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Boulder CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 20, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 21 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:10 pm from LVS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.