Mooney M-20J accident near Tucson, Arizona, July 13, 1994
On July 13, 1994 at about 4:16 pm local time, a Mooney M-20J, registered N5668M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Tucson International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1994 · about 4:16 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Tucson International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20J · all M-20Js on the register
- Registration
- N5668M · no longer on the register · serial 24-1602
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 1/2 HOUR BEFORE ARRIVING IN THE DESTINATION AREA ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTICED A MOMENTARY FLUCTUATION OF THE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE, WHICH THEN STABILIZED. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE FUEL PRESSURE WENT TO ZERO AND THE ENGINE QUIT. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FAILED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE DESENDED INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND STRUCK A UTILITY POLE BEFORE COMING TO REST AGAINST A GARAGE. THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WAS RUPTURED AND CONTAINED ABOUT 1 GALLON OF FUEL WHEN FIRE PERSONNEL ARRIVED. THE LEFT WING CONTAINED ABOUT 15 GALLONS OF FUEL. AFTER RETRIEVAL, THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY WITHOUT THE FUEL BOOST PUMP.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 705 hours in all; 156 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 623 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,876 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1993; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3BD6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAF Santa Fe NM at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11L, 10,994 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:20 pm from TUS, 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.