Mooney M20C accident near Twin Falls, Idaho, May 2, 1986
On May 2, 1986 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N6494U, was destroyed in an accident near Twin Falls, Idaho (Twin Falls airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1986 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Twin Falls, Idaho · Twin Falls · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6494U · no longer on the register · serial 2241
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FINAL APCH THE ATCT ADVISED THE PLT OF A 17 KT X-WIND WITH GUSTS TO 22 KTS. THE PLT LANDED BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RWY INTO A GRASS AREA. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF AGAIN, THE WIND LIFTED UP THE WING AND THE ACFT TURNED DOWNWIND. THE ACFT SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND NEXT TO THE RWY WHERE IT TRAVELED THROUGH FENCES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.
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: 201 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 131 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,241 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BOI Boise ID at 2:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 8,703 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:06 pm from TWF, 1 miles away
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.