Mooney M20A accident near San Ysidro, New Mexico, September 24, 1990
On September 24, 1990 at about 2:53 am local time, a Mooney M20A, registered N6054X, was destroyed in an accident near San Ysidro, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE DURING A NIGHT VFR FLIGHT. DARKNESS AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 1990 · about 2:53 am local time
- Place
- San Ysidro, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20A · all M20As on the register
- Registration
- N6054X · registry record · serial 1645
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: 255 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,015 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1989; 131 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ Carlsbad CA at 10:35 pm
- Destination: SAF Santa Fe NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 am from SAF, 30 miles away
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.