# NTSB WPR26LA064: Mooney M20J, N87PM, Silver Springs, NV, December 17, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: December 17, 2025, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Silver Springs, NV
- Coordinates: 39.410717, -119.23275
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4107&lon=-119.2327&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202183
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA064
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202183/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA064

## Preliminary report

On December 17, 2025, about 1230 Pacific standard time, a Mooney M20J, N87PM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Silver Springs, Nevada. The pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that the flight was a return trip from Lake Havasu City Airport (HII) to his home airport in Florence, Oregon (6S2). He had flown the route with his wife and dog on multiple previous occasions, and Silver Springs, Nevada (SPZ), was their usual intermediate stop. The pilot stated that he checked the weather that morning, and it indicated they had an opportunity to fly back that day, with a window of visual conditions at Florence remaining open until 1700. He did not check en route weather beyond reviewing winds aloft information. After takeoff from Lake Havasu, they climbed to 8,500 ft, and as they flew through the desert he observed numerous dust clouds on the surface. Skies were otherwise clear, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. They discussed whether they should continue but decided that their dog needed a bathroom break and a walk, so they initiated a descent into Silver Springs. They encountered turbulence during the descent, but this was not particularly unusual based on his experience with desert operations. During the approach, the pilot heard nothing when he selected the automated weather observation system (AWOS) frequency. He reported that he could not see a windsock, so he decided to land on runway 6 because he understood it to be the “calm wind” runway. The wind was strong and gusting during the approach, and the pilot reported that the airplane touched down about midfield. Almost immediately, he decided to perform a go-around. He pulled back on the control yoke while pushing all the engine controls fully forward. The engine did not respond with the power he was accustomed to, and due to the strong turbulence, he was unable to observe the engine instruments. The airplane would not climb, and each time he pulled back on the control yoke the stall warning horn sounded. As the airplane approached the end of the runway, he began a left turn to avoid buildings, and the airplane settled into a field. The airplane struck a fence and tumbled, before it came to rest inverted about 2,500 ft northeast of the departure end of runway 6. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) current at the time of the accident indicated that the AWOS was out of service. The closest weather-reporting station, at Reno/Tahoe International Airport, located about 25 miles west of SPZ, indicated wind from 270° at 23 knots, gusting to 38 knots.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N87PM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87PM), registered now, S/N 24-1386, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1386
- Year built: 1983
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Departed: HII, Lake Havasu City, NV
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: SPZ

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 23 knots, gusting 38
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: KRNO, 25 nm away
- METAR: METAR KRNO 171955Z 27023G38KT 10SM SCT055 SCT150 17/02 A3007 RMK AO2 PK WND 26038/1947 SLP156 ACSL DSNT SE T01670017=ARAC


## 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 20251217020679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251217020679A), Dec 17, 2025: Mooney M20J, Silver Springs, NV, Substantial damage. Aicraft left lake havasu, AZ headed to florence, or with a fuel stop in Silver Springs, NV. AWOS was out and noted in the NOTAMS. Pilot contacted fallon for an…

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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