Mooney M20-K accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, August 18, 1987
On August 18, 1987 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Mooney M20-K, registered N233BG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada (Mccarren 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
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
- August 18, 1987 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · Mccarren · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20-K · all M20-Ks on the register
- Registration
- N233BG · registry record · serial 25-0859
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 19R BUT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 19L. THE TOWER NOTED THE MISTAKE AND ASKED THE AIRCRAFT TO SIDE STEP TO RUNWAY 19R. DURING THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO LAND ON RUNWAY 19R, THE TOWER TOLD THE PILOT TO GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND THE AIRCRAFT ASSUMED A STEEP LEFT WING DOWN, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, IMPACTING THE GROUND BETWEEN THE PARALLEL RUNWAYS. THE POLOT STATED THAT A LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED DURING THE GO-AROUND. FAA INSPECTORS RAN THE ENGINE WITH NO APPARENT LOSS OF POWER. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER TO THE STALL WARNING WAS FOUND TO BE IN THE OUT POSITION AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE.
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; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,721 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 370 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-560-GB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSP Palm Springs CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19L, 9,776 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.