Mooney M20J accident near Gallup, New Mexico, February 24, 1994
On February 24, 1994 at about 4:42 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N201SX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gallup, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 EXHAUST VALVE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE TO EXECUTE THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 1994 · about 4:42 pm local time
- Place
- Gallup, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N201SX · no longer on the register · serial 24-0308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 8,500 FEET MSL THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST VALVE FOR THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING TO A SNOW COVERED OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER IMPACTING A TREE STUMP.
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: 783 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 715 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,619 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 1993; 131 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-AIB6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:58 pm from GUP
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.