Mooney M20-C accident near Page, Arizona, April 23, 1994
On April 23, 1994 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Mooney M20-C, registered N6524U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Page, Arizona (Page Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS TO ASSURE THAT AMPLE FUEL WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT. THE GENERATOR FAILURE AND AN INOPERATIVE FUEL QUANTITY GAGE WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1994 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Page, Arizona · Page Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20-C · all M20-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6524U · registry record · serial 2307
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE OWNER WAS CONDUCTING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT ACCOMPANIED BY A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR AN AIRPLANE CHECK-OUT. ABOUT 3 HRS AFTER DEPARTURE, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE PILOTS DIVERTED TO PAGE. ABOUT 40 MIN LATER, THE FLIGHT ARRIVED OVER THE AIRPORT AND DESCENDED TO ENTER A DOWNWIND LANDING PATTERN. WHEN POWER WAS ADDED, THE PILOTS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE HAD QUIT. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FAILED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE FUEL SELECTOR HAD BEEN POSITIONED ON THE RIGHT FUEL TANK DURING THE DESCENT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS, AND THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF A CROSSWIND RUNWAY IN SOFT TERRAIN. A POSTCRASH INSPECTION BY THE AIRPORT MANAGER REVEALED ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK, AND 1-1/2 INCHES OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK WITH THE WINGS TIPPED DOWNWARD TOWARD THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRPLANE'S GENERATOR HAD FAILED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 605 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 575 as pilot in command; 253 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U42 Salt Lake City UT at 4:15 pm
- Destination: FLG Flagstaff AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:28 pm from PGA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.