Mooney M20F accident near Truckee, California, January 26, 1989
On January 26, 1989 at about 2:12 am local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N3274F, was destroyed in an accident near Truckee, California (Truckee-Tahoe airport). It was a personal 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 DECISION TO FLY WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE WORN FUEL INJECTOR WITH AN INTERIOR LEAK, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 1989 · about 2:12 am local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee-Tahoe
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3274F · no longer on the register · serial 670367
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE THE FLT, THE PLT WAS OBSERVED SCRAPING ICE FROM THE WINGS OF THE ACFT. THE ENG STARTED WITHOUT DIFFICULTY & THE PLT TAXIED TO RWY 28 TO TAKEOFF AT NGT. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE ACFT ENTERED A LEFT TURN AFTER PASSING THE END OF THE RWY. SUDDENLY, IT ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED ON SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. IMPACT OCCURRED ON A HDG OF 140 DEG. THE LEADING EDGES OF BOTH WINGS WERE FLATTENED AGAINST THE MAIN SPAR & THE FUSELAGE FORWARD OF THE EMPENNAGE WAS BUCKLED. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE ENG 'STALLED' BEFORE THE ACFT STARTED A DESCENT. A TEST OF THE FUEL INJECTOR REVEALED IT HAD AN INTERIOR LEAK AROUND THE MIXTURE CONTROL BUSHING SEAL, WHICH ALLOWED UNMETERED FUEL TO ENTER THE ENG. NO OTHER MECHANICAL PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE ARPT ELEV WAS 5900'. TWO ACQUAINTANCES OF THE PLT SAID HE RPRTD A FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM OR A FUEL MIXTURE PROBLEM.
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: 1,417 hours in all; 512 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,363 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,975 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 1988; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Q99 San Martin CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 6,401 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from TRK, 25 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.