Skip to content

Atlas / NTSB / LAX93LA085

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event LAX93LA085

1992-12-31 SO. LAKE TAHOE, California, United States Airport · TVL None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N9511M

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

MOONEY M20F

Year of manufacture

1966 · 26 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING I0360 SER (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19661014

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S AD3AE5

Registrant of record

BENJAMIN JOSEPH

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO GUSTING CROSS WINDS AND ICE ON THE RUNWAY.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT SAID HE DEPARTED FROM THE AIRPORT AND FLEW OUT OVER THE LAKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLIMB ABOVE THE CLOUDS SURROUNDING THE LAKE BASIN. AFTER ASCERTAINING THAT THE CLOUD TOPS WERE HIGHER THAN FORECAST, THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT SIDE BEGAN PUSHING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT SAID HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER IT ENCOUNTERED A PATCH OF BLACK ICE ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BANK. A RESPONDING FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND THE RUNWAY AND REPORTED FINDING PATCHES OF BLACK ICE ON THE SIDES OF THE RUNWAY. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1992_LAX93LA085.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.