Mooney M20A accident near Gila Bend, Arizona, August 26, 1983
On August 26, 1983 at about 5:27 pm local time, a Mooney M20A, registered N6020X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gila Bend, Arizona (Gila Bend airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- August 26, 1983 · about 5:27 pm local time
- Place
- Gila Bend, Arizona · Gila Bend · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20A · all M20As on the register
- Registration
- N6020X · no longer on the register · serial 1608
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT OVERRAN THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH DITCH DURING LANDING. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT FLOATED AFTER THE FLARE FOR LANDING AND EVEN THOUGH HEAVY BRAKING WAS USED AFTER LANDING THE ACFT DID NOT STOP ON THE RWY. THE WIND WAS CALM BUT THE PLT SAID HE HAD NOT OBSERVED THE WINDSOCK PRIOR TO LANDING. THE RWY USED IS 3800 FT LONG WITH A 200 FT OVERRUN. THE DITCH IS 100 BEYOND THE OVERRUN. THE PLT STATED IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT THAT HE SHOULD HAVE MADE A GO-AROUND WHEN THE KNEW HE COULD NOT MAKE THE LANDING APPROACH.
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: 121 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 77 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,920 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 1983; 51 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: ELP El Paso TX at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Los Angeles CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from GBN, 3 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.