# Accident 19901003050229A: Mooney M20K, Flagstaff, AZ, October 3, 1990

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 3, 1990, 12:46 local time
- Place: Flagstaff, AZ
- Airport: Flagstaff Pullian Aprt
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.2310° N, 111.7200° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2310&lon=-111.7200&mi=10
- Aircraft: N231AX, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231AX-1991-05-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20K (registry code 5870220, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO360GB
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 4,800 total, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX91FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91FA001) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901003050229A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

RETURNING TO AIRPORT SAW TRAILING SMOKE. ROLLED LEFT, HIT TREES.TAILPIPE ON RUNWAY. AD TURBO V CLAMPS NOT COMPLIED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX91FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91FA001), Oct 3, 1990: Mooney M20K (N231AX), Flagstaff, AZ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT WITH A KNOWN DISCREPANCY; INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES; AND THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SMOKE AND FUMES IN THE COCKPIT.

## Other reports on N231AX (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19900419016379I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900419016379I), Apr 19, 1990: Mooney M20K (N231AX), Farmington, NM. Lost manifold pressure. Air door would not fully open. Forced landing. Carburetor air filter had ice.
- [Incident 19850701038149I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850701038149I), Jul 1, 1985: Mooney M20K (N231AX), Tewksbury, MA, Minor damage. Aircraft was landed long. Ran off end of runway damaging gear doors.
- [Incident 19831226072909I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831226072909I), Dec 26, 1983: Mooney M20K (N231AX), Keenesgurg, CO. During cruise a fuel line fitting broke. Landed safely on a interstate highway.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.