Mooney M20J N37JK
6 July 2003 · Leadville, Colorado, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 6 July 2003 at about 18:35 local time, a Mooney M20J registered N37JK was involved in an accident near Leadville, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Leadville, Colorado, United States
- Nearest airport
- Lake County (LXV)
- Coordinates
- 39.2172, -106.3167
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J
- Registration
- N37JK
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Leadville → Sedona
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN03LA122
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to attain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush. Contributing factors were the wind shear, runway light, fence post, and unsuitable terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot took off and allowed the airplane to accelerate in ground effect to normal climb speed. When he initiated the climb, airspeed dropped 20 to 25 knots and the airplane settled back onto the runway. The airplane went off the end of the runway, struck a runway light and fence post, and traveled about 1,100 feet before coming to a halt. The empennage separated from the airplane when it collided with terrain. The pilot said the wind was from 160 to 200 degrees at 12 knots with gusts to 16 knots. At 1256, the recorded METAR (routine aviation weather report) at Leadville was as follows: Wind variable at 3 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; few clouds, 11,000 feet; temperature, 21 degrees Celsius; dew point, minus 7 degrees Celsius; altimeter, 30.35 inches of mercury; peak wind, 180 degrees at 35 knots; rain began at 1235, and ended at 1246; sea level pressure, 1009.0 millibars.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mooney M20J accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 2003 | Mooney M20J | Montauk, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Oct 2003 | Mooney M20J | Grantsville, Utah, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 12 Jun 2003 | Mooney M20J | Lincoln, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 2003 | Mooney M20J | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 2003 | Mooney M20J | De Lancey, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Oct 2003 | Mooney M20J | Ocala, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 2003 | Aerostar RX-8 | Snowmass Villag, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 2003 | Piper PA-28R-200 | Delta, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 2003 | Beechcraft S35 | Colorado Spring, Colorado, United States | Peter J. Vercouteren | No injuries | - |
| 23 Mar 2003 | Cessna 172S | Erie, Colorado, United States | Specialty Flight Training, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 2003 | Beechcraft E-90 | Kremmling, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 2003 | Cessna 172P | Watkins, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |