# NTSB CEN20LA268: Mooney M20TN, Buena Vista, CO, July 7, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 7, 2020, 13:44 local (19:44 UTC) - Place: Buena Vista, CO - Coordinates: 38.81361, -106.121391 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8136&lon=-106.1214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101562 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101562/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101562 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA268 ## Probable cause The pilot's distraction during takeoff, which resulted in collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was on a cross-country flight and stopped at the airport to refuel the airplane. During the subsequent takeoff, the pilot looked down to adjust the engine mixture and put on his oxygen nose piece. He stated that he did not establish a positive rate of climb and was not paying attention to his airspeed and altitude. The pilot looked up and the right main landing gear hit the terrain very hard at an estimated speed of 150 to 160 knots. The pilot attempted to maintain control, and the airplane came to rest on the runway. A postimpact fire ensued, and the pilot sustained serious injuries as he exited the airplane. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2020, about 1344 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20TN airplane, Canadian registration C-GTVS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Central Colorado Regional Airport, Buena Vista, Colorado. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he was on a cross-country flight from Canada to California and stopped in Buena Vista to refuel the airplane. During the takeoff, the pilot did not establish a positive rate of climb and looked down to adjust the engine mixture and put on his oxygen nose piece. He stated that during the takeoff sequence he was not paying attention to his airspeed and altitude. The pilot looked up and the right main landing gear hit the terrain very hard at an estimated speed of 150 to 160 knots. The pilot attempted to maintain control, and the airplane came to rest on the runway. A postimpact fire ensued, and the pilot sustained serious injuries as he exited the airplane.The airplane sustained substantial damage from the postimpact fire. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. A witness, who was located at the airport, reported that he observed the airplane takeoff from runway 15 with no problems noted. The airplane then suddenly impacted the runway surface, and a postimpact fire ensued. The witness responded to the accident location to assist the pilot. The pilot reported to the witness that he "went to get his oxygen nose piece and impacted runway." ## Aircraft - Registration: C-GTVS (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20TN (No Series) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-0028 - Year built: 2007 - Engines: Continental TSIO-550-G 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 2018 - Departed: AEJ, Buena Vista, CO - Destination: VNY, Van Nuys, CA - Airport: AEJ, Central Colorado Regional, runway 15, 8,303 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 750 total, 50 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 18 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: AEJ ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101562. 1.3 MB in all. - Record of conversation pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11352421&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 822 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11351868&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpt of airport report (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11351572&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20of%20Airport%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 249 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11352432&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.