Mooney M20F accident near Winslow, Arizona, July 17, 2011
On July 17, 2011 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N3534X, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Winslow, Arizona (Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Air airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to fuel system contamination, and the pilot’s subsequent failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2011 · about 5:25 pm local time · cases in 2011
- Place
- Winslow, Arizona · Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Air · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3534X · no longer on the register · serial 670071
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a cross-country flight, the pilot landed at the accident airport to refuel. After the airplane was refueled, witnesses saw the airplane depart toward the east. After takeoff, the pilot advised via radio that he was returning to the airport due to a rough running engine. Witnesses near the airport saw the airplane make a steep turn and then descend into an uncontrolled spiral. The airplane impacted in an inverted position at the departure end of the runway and slid about 65 yards. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed that the fuel injector servo had a substantial amount of rust and contamination inside the unit. The pilot had an issue with water contamination in the fuel system previously and suspected that he needed to replace the fuel bladders.
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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Fuel contamination during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Water › Not specified other cases naming the other and general
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Other crew
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 127 hours in all
- Last flight review: August 27, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 2010; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: INW Winslow AZ at 5:00 pm
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 7,099 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from INW, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on November 20, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness Statement-christensen | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statement-reffner | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Co-owner Statement-maddy | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | PHOTO1- Accident Site and Witness Locations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 2 - Impact and Main Wreckage Location | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 3 - Fuel Servo with Debris | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Aircraft/engine Examination Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Party Report- Lycoming | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Fuel Control Examination Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Toxicological Report- Hayes | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3534X: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Mooney M-20 6,245 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Mooney 5,394 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 196 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Winslow-Lindbergh Regional · nearest airport
- Chino Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,422 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR11FA331.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.