Mooney M20J and Cessna T210M accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, January 11, 1992
On January 11, 1992 at about 11:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Mooney M20J (N7000L) and Cessna T210M (N732SY), were involved in the same accident near Bullhead City, Arizona (Bullhead City airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT LANDING ON A TAXIWAY INSTEAD OF THE ACTIVE RUNWAY.
THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT INADVERTENTLY LANDING ON THE TAXIWAY INSTEAD OF THE ACTIVE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 1992 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bullhead City, Arizona · Bullhead City · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N7000L · registry record · serial 24-0297
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N732SY · registry record · serial 21061749
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Mooney M20J final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS FROM BOTH PILOTS AND GROUND WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT, THE MOONEY M20J, N7000L, MISTAKENLY LANDED ON A TAXIWAY INSTEAD OF THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. THE MOONEY THEN COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA T210M, N732SY, WHICH WAS JUST PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE ONTO THE TAXIWAY. THE WITNESSES STATED THAT THE MOONEY WAS TRAVELING TOO FAST TO AVOID THE COLLISION.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna T210M final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A MOONEY M20J, N7000L, LANDED ON THE TAXIWAY INSTEAD OF THE ACTIVE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THE CESSNA T210M JUST AS IT WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE TO TAXI FOR TAKEOFF.
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 for the Mooney M20J from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,207 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 715 as pilot in command; 1,491 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 28, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPM Compton CA at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 4,648 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna T210M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,340 hours in all; 124 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,990 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.