Mooney M20F accident near So. Lake Tahoe, California, December 31, 1992
On December 31, 1992 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N9511M, was substantially damaged in an accident near So. Lake Tahoe, California (South Lake Takhoe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO GUSTING CROSS WINDS AND ICE ON THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 1992 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- So. Lake Tahoe, California · South Lake Takhoe
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9511M · registry record · serial 670088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE DEPARTED FROM THE AIRPORT AND FLEW OUT OVER THE LAKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLIMB ABOVE THE CLOUDS SURROUNDING THE LAKE BASIN. AFTER ASCERTAINING THAT THE CLOUD TOPS WERE HIGHER THAN FORECAST, THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT SIDE BEGAN PUSHING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT SAID HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER IT ENCOUNTERED A PATCH OF BLACK ICE ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BANK. A RESPONDING FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND THE RUNWAY AND REPORTED FINDING PATCHES OF BLACK ICE ON THE SIDES OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 114 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 76 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,860 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1992; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TVL at 7:15 pm
- Destination: SNA Santa Ana CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 8,544 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from TVL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.