- Date
- September 28, 1990, 17:55 local (Sep 29, 1990, 00:55 UTC)
- Place
- Flagstaff, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9161DMooney M-20-M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 12, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900928043459A
- Case key
- 26933
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Engine failure due to a ruptured fuel pump diaphragm. A factor in the accident was the unsuitable nature of the terrain to make a forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot of a Mooney M-20-M experienced engine failure while approaching the airport for landing. The pilot stated he had just switched to the fullest tank and activated the boost pump. At that point the engine quit. Examination of the 18 hours since new aircraft fuel system, discovered a ruptured fuel pump diaphragm. Airworthiness directive 91-08-07 and several textron/lycoming service bulletins address this eventuality.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9161D
- Reported as
- Mooney M-20-M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 27-0071
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-AF1A, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- R. T. Dilley
- Departed
- ELP · El Paso, TX
- Airport
- FLG · Flagstaff, runway 21, 6,999 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total · 8 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- FLG, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.