Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K accident near Page, Arizona, June 12, 2011
On June 12, 2011 at about 3:30 am local time, a Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K, registered N5765D, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Page, Arizona (Page Municipal 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 selection of the wrong taxi route and failure to follow prescribed taxi procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2011 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Page, Arizona · Page Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K
- Registration
- N5765D · no longer on the register · serial 25-0833
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was taxiing from the transient parking towards the runway for takeoff. It was dusk at the time and he was proceeding at a walking pace (2-3 miles per hour) to the taxiway when he encountered a large ditch at the end of the tarmac. The airplane rolled into the ditch bending the propeller and the empennage. The pilot commented that there were no signs, reflectors, warnings, or other indications that the ditch was there. The airport manager reported that the taxi route from the transient area is clearly marked with in-ground reflectors which lead to a lit taxiway and then to the runway. According to the manager, it appeared the pilot proceeded directly to the taxiway from the transient parking area where he was parked. He crossed a set of double solid lines that demarcate the taxiway edge, and continued into a helicopter operating/parking area. From there he crossed a marked service road, past a helicopter landing pad, and past a lit windsock before impacting the drainage ditch. The airport manager further reported that since the area is clearly marked and only intended for helicopter traffic there is no extra signage warning of the ditch.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during taxi (to runway) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › (general) › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Taxiway markings/signage › Compliance w/ procedure
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,432 hours in all; 632 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,261 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 6, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,055 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 2011; 50 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Contenental IO-360-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pacific Medical Communication INC DBA
The flight
- Departed from: KPGA Page AZ
- Destination: KPGA Page AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from KPGA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.