What happened
On December 17, 2025, at approximately 12:30 Pacific standard time, a Mooney M20J, registration N87PM, was involved in an accident near Silver Springs, Nevada. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use, traveling from Lake Havasu City Airport (Helsinki) to Florence, Oregon (6S2).
The pilot reported that while flying through the desert, he observed several dust clouds on the ground. Although visual meteorological conditions prevailed, the crew decided to descend into Silver Springs (SPZ) for a break. During the descent, the aircraft encountered turbulence.
Upon approaching the airport, the pilot attempted to contact the automated weather observation system (AWOS) but received no response. Because the pilot could not locate a windsock, he elected to land on runway 6, believing it to be the runway for calm winds. The pilot reported that the wind was strong and gusting during the approach, and the aircraft touched down near the midfield of the runway.
Immediately after touchdown, the pilot initiated a go-around. He moved the engine controls fully forward and pulled back on the control yoke, but the engine did not provide the expected power. Due to the turbulence, the pilot was unable to monitor the engine instruments. The aircraft failed to climb, and the stall warning horn activated each time the pilot attempted to pull back on the yoke. To avoid buildings at the end of the runway, the pilot began a left turn, after which the aircraft settled into a field. The aircraft struck a fence and tumbled, coming to rest inverted approximately 2,500 feet northeast of the departure end of runway 6. The pilot and passenger sustained 2 serious injuries.
At the time of the accident, a NOTAM indicated that the AWOS was out of service. Nearby weather reporting at Reno/Tahoe International Airport showed winds from 270 degrees at 23 knots, with gusts up to 38 knots.