Mooney M-20-M accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, September 29, 1990
On September 29, 1990, a Mooney M-20-M, registered N9161D, was destroyed in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona (Flagstaff airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A RUPTURED FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1990
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · Flagstaff · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20-M · all M-20-Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9161D · registry record · serial 27-0071
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A MOONEY M-20-M EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE APPROACHING THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD JUST SWITCHED TO THE FULLEST TANK AND ACTIVATED THE BOOST PUMP. AT THAT POINT THE ENGINE QUIT. EXAMINATION OF THE 18 HOURS SINCE NEW AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM, DISCOVERED A RUPTURED FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM. AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 91-08-07 AND SEVERAL TEXTRON/LYCOMING SERVICE BULLETINS ADDRESS THIS EVENTUALITY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 8 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,368 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AF1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 6,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:10 am from FLG, 1 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.