Mooney M20B accident near Animas, New Mexico, March 24, 2021
On March 24, 2021 at about 6:21 am local time, a 1961 Mooney M20B, registered N74786, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Animas, New Mexico (Fort Stockton-Pecos County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s delayed use in the operation of carburetor heat which resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 2021 · about 6:21 am local time
- Place
- Animas, New Mexico · Fort Stockton-Pecos County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20B, built 1961 · all M20Bs on the register
- Registration
- N74786 · no longer on the register · serial 1786
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a night instrument flight rules cross-country flight, the airplane encountered weather that included clouds and icing conditions. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to run rough and lose power; radar contact was lost, and the airplane was located in mountainous terrain. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Weather conditions reported at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at cruise power settings. The pilot reported that, during a climb into clouds, with the carburetor heat off, the engine began to run rough and was losing rpms before he applied carburetor heat. Therefore, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during the climb, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute (cruise)
- Fuel related during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Ice/rain protection system › Intake anti › ice, deice › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private, remote
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 25, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,001.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 3,367 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFST Ft Stockton TX at 4:30 pm
- Destination: KTUS Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 280° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 1:29 am from KDMN, 38 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDMN 240729Z AUTO 28013G20KT 9SM -RA FEW015 OVC027 04/02 A2980 RMK AO2 P0001 T00390022
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on April 19, 2023. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airframe and Engine Examination | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos - New Mexico State Police | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Meteorology Factual Report | PDF, 28 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Saib CE-09-35 Carburetor Icing Prevention | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | 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.
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.