Grand Canyon Natl Park Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023
Sunday, November 15, 1987 12:27 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE CRUISING EN ROUTE ALL ENGINE POWER WAS SUDDENLY LOST AND THE PLT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LDG AT THE GRAND CANYON ARPT. DURING THE GLIDE, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO AN OUTCROP OF ROCKS ON A STEEP CLIFF, 0.5 MI FROM THE END OF THE RWY. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE #3 CONNECTING ROD BOLT NUTS HAD BACKED OFF THE BOLT, AND OTHER NUT HAD BEEN PARTIALLY STRIPPED OFF ITS BOLT. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR 212 HRS SMOH. LAB EXAM OF THE BOLT/NUT INTERFACE INDICATED THAT THE NUTS HAD BEEN UNDERTORQUED WHEN THEY WERE LAST INSTALLED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/15/1987
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1227
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GRAND CANYON
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86023
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRAND CANYON NATL PARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GCN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 6606
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1226 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID GCN
Elevation of weather observation facility 6606
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2626
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 15 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1220
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38162
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6670R
NTSB Number LAX88FA042
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20C
Aircraft Series Identifier M20C
Aircraft Serial Number 2865
Certified Max Gross Weight 2575
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 6 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 2433
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JACK A PEMBERTON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1101 AIRPORT BLVD
Aircraft Owner City SAN JOSE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95110
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RENATO & GLENDA RICCI
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1663 ADRIEN DRIVE
Operator City CAMPBELL
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95008
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SEZ
Departure City SEDONA
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code L06
Destination City DEATH VALLEY
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 8999
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --