# NTSB WPR16LA043: Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20F, N6811V, Nogales, AZ, December 26, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 26, 2015, 13:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Nogales, AZ - Coordinates: 31.43111, -110.841392 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4311&lon=-110.8414&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 4 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92501 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR16LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92501/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92501 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA043 ## Probable cause The airplane’s impact with a hillside shortly after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=5870314), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=5870314), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after departure for a personal, cross-country flight, the airplane impacted a hillside about .5 miles east of the airport and came to rest upright. Examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A visual examination of the engine revealed no holes in the engine case nor evidence of an oil leak. One propeller blade was missing the blade tip, and the other propeller blade exhibited chordwise striations and was bent consistent with the production of engine power at the time of impact. Based on the available information, the reason the airplane impacted a hillside shortly after takeoff could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On December 26, 2015, about 1340 mountain standard time, an Aerostar Aircraft Corporation of Texas M20F airplane, N6811V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Nogales, Arizona. The pilot and three passengers were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Shortly after departure from Nogales International Airport (OLS), Nogales, Arizona, for a cross-country flight, the airplane impacted a hillside about .5 miles east of the airport and then came to rest upright on its belly. No mayday call was received from the pilot. During postaccident examination of the airplane, one of the landing gears was found separated, and the engine was found partially separated from the airframe, but it remained in its relative normal position. The airframe was substantially damaged. Fuel was observed leaking from the airplane, no holes were found in the engine case, and no evidence of leaking oil was found. The propeller assembly remained attached to the engine. One propeller blade was missing the tip, and the other propeller blade exhibited chordwise striations and was bent near the propeller hub. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation; however, the engine was not examined. The pilot did not return the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Report Form 6120.1 nor did he provide a statement about the accident sequence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6811V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6811V-2018-03-02), registration cancelled 2018-03-02, S/N 22-0003, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSTAR ACFT CORP OF TEXAS M20F (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-acft-corp-of-texas-m20f) (registry code 5870314) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-0003 - Year built: 1971 - Engines: LYCOMING I0360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: OLS, Nogales Intl - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 0 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 11 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: OLS, 10 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 20151226021519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151226021519A), Dec 26, 2015: Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20F, Nogales, AZ, Destroyed. On 12/26/2015, aircraft N6811V took off from runway 3 at the Nogales Arizona airport heading east. The aircraft climbed to approx. 500 feet and was not gaining… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92501. 5.8 MB in all. - Record of conversation (FAA inspector) (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11886240&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RoC%20JChaundry%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Photos (courtesy of FAA) (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11823808&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20FAA-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.