# NTSB SEA90FA066: Mooney M20K, N231NB, Carson City, NV, April 13, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 13, 1990, 14:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Carson City, NV
- Coordinates: 39.209022, -119.710174 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2090&lon=-119.7102&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41104
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA90FA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41104/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90FA066

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON RUNWAY 27, AND WAS ON INITIAL CLIMB AT 200-300 FT ABOVE THE RUNWAY, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY ROLLED LEFT INTO AN INVERTED ATTITUDE AND IMPACT THE GROUND. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED AS 7,057 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231NB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231NB-2013-02-11), registration cancelled 2013-02-11, S/N 25-0319, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M20K25-0319
- Airframe hours: 890
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-GB 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Max D. Hyden
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1989, 245 hours before
- Destination: 4TA, TRUCKEE, CA
- Airport: 004, Carson City, runway 27, 5,900 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 218 total, 73 in this make and model, 198 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RNO, 18 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900413008839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900413008839A), Apr 13, 1990: Mooney M20K, Carson City, NV, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Observed take off, enter right bank, followed by a steep left bank and dive to the ground.

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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