Mooney M20A accident near Reserve, New Mexico, June 24, 1987
On June 24, 1987 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Mooney M20A, registered N6060X, was destroyed in an accident near Reserve, New Mexico (Reserve airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- June 24, 1987 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Reserve, New Mexico · Reserve · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20A · all M20As on the register
- Registration
- N6060X · no longer on the register · serial 1686
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS FERRYING HIS ACFT FROM RESERVE AIRPORT, NM, TO JEWITT MESA AIRPORT, APACHE CREEK, NM. THERE WAS A MATURE THUNDERSTORM OVER THE NORTHERN MOUNTAIN RIDGE PRODUCING WHAT ONE WITNESS DESCRIBED AS WINDS 'REALLY BLOWING HARD.' SHE SAID SHE SAW THE ACFT CLIMB OVER THE TOPS OF THE TREES AND IT'S 'WINGS WERE WOBBLING.' ANOTHER WITNESS, DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY PARALLEL TO THE RWY, SAID HE PACED THE ACFT AS IT TOOK OFF ON RWY 06. HE SAID THE ACFT LIFTED OFF JUST BEYOND THE PARKING RAMP AND CLIMBED TO AN ESTIMATED 300 FT ALTITUDE. IT THEN BANKED TO THE LEFT, 'ITS WINGS BECAME VERTICAL AND THEN ITS NOSE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED.' POST-CRASH EXAM OF ACFT DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF AIRFRAME, ENG, PROP, OR FLT CONTROL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OF THE PLT DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF INCAPACITATION OR IMPAIRMENT.
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: 314 hours in all; 174 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 272 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,109 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1986; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Q13 Apache Creek NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 4,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from SVC, 72 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.