Mooney M20J accident near Sedona, Arizona, May 1, 1993
On May 1, 1993 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N201GK, was destroyed in an accident near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1993 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N201GK · no longer on the register · serial 24-0218
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED ABOUT 3/4 MI FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY WITH ITS WING ROLLED 90 DEG FROM HORIZONTAL. THE NOSE DROPPED AND THE AIRPLANE DROPPED VERTICALLY. THE AIRPLANE RECOVERED, APPEARED TO CLIMB, BANK SWIFTLY TO THE LEFT, ROLLED INVERTED, AND IMPACT THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE ROLL SERVO REVEALED THAT THE AUTOPILOT WAS ENGAGED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE AUTOPILOT CONTROL PANEL WAS DESTROYED.
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, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,526 hours in all; 132 in this make and model; 111 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 2,154 as pilot in command; 466 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,395 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1993; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIV Riverside CA at 3:57 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 3, 5,131 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:25 pm from SEZ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.