# NTSB SEA87LA169: Mooney M20-K, N233BG, Las Vegas, NV, August 18, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 18, 1987, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Las Vegas, NV
- Coordinates: 36.300117, -115.239204 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3001&lon=-115.2392&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40679
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA87LA169
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40679/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA87LA169

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - warning system(other) - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - electrical system,circuit breaker - popped/tripped (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 19R BUT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 19L. THE TOWER NOTED THE MISTAKE AND ASKED THE AIRCRAFT TO SIDE STEP TO RUNWAY 19R. DURING THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO LAND ON RUNWAY 19R, THE TOWER TOLD THE PILOT TO GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND THE AIRCRAFT ASSUMED A STEEP LEFT WING DOWN, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, IMPACTING THE GROUND BETWEEN THE PARALLEL RUNWAYS. THE POLOT STATED THAT A LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED DURING THE GO-AROUND. FAA INSPECTORS RAN THE ENGINE WITH NO APPARENT LOSS OF POWER. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER TO THE STALL WARNING WAS FOUND TO BE IN THE OUT POSITION AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N233BG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20-K
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-0859
- Airframe hours: 370
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-560-GB 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert Gallic
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PSP, PALM SPRINGS, CA
- Destination: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: LAS, Mccarren, runway 19L, 9,776 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,721 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870818045899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870818045899A), Aug 18, 1987: Mooney M20K, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. Lined up for wrong runway. Told to go around, stalled and crashed between runways. Stall circuit breaker popped.

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.

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