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LAX90LA338

1990-09-28 · FLAGSTAFF, Arizona, United States · Serious · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport FLG

Current FAA registration · N9161D

Make / Model
MOONEY M20M
Year of manufacture
1990 · 0 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING TI0-540 SER (310 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19900917
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ACAF74

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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.

Factual narrative

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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_LAX90LA338.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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