Mooney M20J accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, July 12, 2001
On July 12, 2001 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N4326H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada (Mccarron International airport). 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 pilot's inadaquate visual lookout and failure to maintain proper clearance from an object. A factor was the pilot's distraction by a conversation with ground control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2001 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · Mccarron International · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- 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
- N4326H · no longer on the register · serial 24-0707
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During taxi the airplane collided with a pole. The fixed based operator (FBO) stated that the aircraft was behind the "follow me" golf cart and passed through an opening between a parked aircraft and a metal pole. The total distance betwen the parked aircraft and the pole was measured at 78 feet, and the wing span on the accident aircraft was measured at 35 feet. The pilot stated while taxiing behind the "follow me" golf cart he was distracted by ground control who was trying to provide him with a telephone number to contact tower after securing his aircraft.
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; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: May 23, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3BB0 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 10:35 pm
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from KLAS
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.
Other NTSB records under N4326H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.