Mooney M20D accident near Kerrville, Texas, December 2, 1986
On December 2, 1986, a Mooney M20D, registered N1970Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kerrville, Texas (Kerrville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- December 2, 1986
- Place
- Kerrville, Texas · Kerrville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20D · all M20Ds on the register
- Registration
- N1970Y · registry record · serial 235
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING. TROUBLESHOOTING AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO EXTEND THE GEAR FAILED. THE PILOT THEN MADE A 360 DEGREE TURN OVER THE AIRPORT TO LOSE ALTITUDE DURING WHICH, HE SECURED THE ENGINE AND STOPPED THE PROPELLER IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION TO MINIMIZE DAMAGE. THE PILOT REALIZED AFTER 270 DEGREES OF TURN THAT INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE REMAINED TO REACH THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED ON ROUGH TERRAIN SHORT OF RUNWAY 30. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE NOSE GEAR TIRE WAS HANDING UP ON THE GEAR DOOR DURING EXTENSION. THE NOSE GEAR TIRE WAS FOUND TO BE INFLATED TO 40 PSI. THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL CALL FOR AN INFLATION PRESSURE OF 30 PSI.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,816 hours in all; 1,394 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 3,753 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,835 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 11, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAT San Antonio TX at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from SAT, 91 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.