Mooney M20F accident near Burbank, California, March 19, 1986
On March 19, 1986 at about 5:36 pm local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N9591M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burbank, California (Burbank Glendale Pasadena 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 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
- March 19, 1986 · about 5:36 pm local time
- Place
- Burbank, California · Burbank Glendale Pasadena · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9591M · registry record · serial 670168
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS LANDED NOSE LOW AFTER FLYING THE PATTERN WITH A FLT CONTROL PROBLEM. THE PLT SAID HE NOTICED THE LACK OF ELEVATOR CONTROL DURING INITIAL CLIMB AND CAME BACK IN FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE ELEVATOR WAS FOUND TO BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A BROKEN BEARING (PART #914012-015) THE SUBJECT OF AN AD 73-21-01 EFF 10/73, CONCERNING LUBRICATION.
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: 286 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 241 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,586 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 1985; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BUR Burbank CA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: TSP Tehachapi CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 6,902 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:36 pm from BUR, 5 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.