Mooney M20C accident near Big Lake, Texas, August 9, 1993
On August 9, 1993 at about 5:17 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N5672Q, was destroyed in an accident near Big Lake, Texas. It was an aerial observation 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1993 · about 5:17 pm local time
- Place
- Big Lake, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5672Q · no longer on the register · serial 3158
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPELINE PATROL AIRPLANE IN THE NORMAL CRUISE CONFIGURATION IMPACTED THE DESERT FLOOR IN A 20 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET WEST OF THE PIPELINE BEING PATROLLED. A POST IMPACT FIRE ORIGINATING IN THE REAR OF THE CABIN DESTROYED THE COCKPIT AND CABIN AREA. A LOCALLY MANUFACTURED 36-GALLON AUXILIARY FUEL TANK, WHICH HAD BEEN BOLTED TO THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT FLOOR, WAS FOUND 69 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. NO ANOMALIES WERE FOUND WITH THE POWERPLANT, FLIGHT CONTROLS, OR AIRFRAME.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,916 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1993; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: E13 Crane TX at 12:30 pm
- Destination: E11 Andrews TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from SJT, 62 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.