Aerostar Acft CORP Of Texas M20F accident near Nogales, Arizona, December 26, 2015
On December 26, 2015 at about 8:40 pm local time, a 1971 Aerostar Acft CORP Of Texas M20F, registered N6811V, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Nogales, Arizona (Nogales Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s impact with a hillside shortly after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 2015 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Nogales, Arizona · Nogales Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar Acft CORP Of Texas M20F NO SERIES, built 1971 · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N6811V · no longer on the register · serial 22-0003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departure for a personal, cross-country flight, the airplane impacted a hillside about .5 miles east of the airport and came to rest upright. Examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A visual examination of the engine revealed no holes in the engine case nor evidence of an oil leak. One propeller blade was missing the blade tip, and the other propeller blade exhibited chordwise striations and was bent consistent with the production of engine power at the time of impact. Based on the available information, the reason the airplane impacted a hillside shortly after takeoff could not be determined.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 0 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,449 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 11 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from OLS, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR16LA043.