# NTSB DEN03LA117: Mooney M20C, N2686W, Englewood, CO, July 1, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 2003, 13:17 local (19:17 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.567222, -104.849998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5672&lon=-104.8500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57376 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57376/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA117 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the gusting crosswinds and the high density altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - go-around - not successful, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot said he received instructions to land on runway 28. The pilot set up for a right downwind, base turn , and final approach. The pilot reported, "On final, I had to crab about 20 degrees to the right and lineup for touchdown." The pilot said that in the flare, he transitioned to a slip, and touched down. The pilot said that just after touchdown, a wind gust picked his airplane up about 10 feet off the runway and rolled the airplane into a 20 degree left bank. The pilot said he attempted to go around, but was unable to level the wings or climb. The pilot said the wind blew his airplane off of the runway. About 35 feet left of the runway's edge, the airplane's left wing struck the terrain and the airplane "cartwheeled." An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. Reported winds at the time of the accident were 060 degrees at 6 knots, gusting to 30 knots. A peak wind of 360 degrees at 30 knots was recorded 1 minute after the accident time. Density altitude was 9,152 feet msl. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 2003, at 1317 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N2686W, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing at Centennial Airport (APA), Englewood, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted on a visual flight rules flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Mason City, Iowa, at 0930 central daylight time, and was en route to Denver, Colorado. In his written statement, the pilot received instructions from APA air traffic control tower to land on runway 28 (4,903 feet by 62 feet, dry asphalt). The pilot set up for a right downwind, base turn , and final approach. The pilot reported, "On final, I had to crab about 20 degrees to the right and lineup for touchdown." The pilot reported that in the flare, he transitioned to a slip and touched down. The pilot said, "Shortly after touchdown, about 2 seconds, a wind gust picked me up about 10 feet off the runway and put me in about a 20 degree bank to the left." The pilot said he attempted to go around, but was unable to level the wings or climb. The pilot said the wind blew his airplane off of the runway. About 35 feet left of the runway's edge, the airplane's left wing struck the terrain and the airplane "cartwheeled." An examination of the airplane showed the right main landing gear pushed upward through the wing. The left wing was bent upward and aft, starting at the flap and proceeding outboard to the tip. The bottom fuselage was buckled, starting at the trailing edges of the flaps and proceeding aft to the empennage. The horizontal stabilizer was bent and buckled aft. An examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. Weather at the time of the accident was reported as sky conditions scattered 9,000 feet, scattered 12,000 feet, broken 18,000 feet, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 90 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 32 degrees F, altimeter 30.06 inches of Mercury, winds 060 degrees at 6 knots, gusting to 30 knots. Remarks: peak wind recorded at 1318, was 360 degrees at 30 knots, virga distant southeast. Density altitude was 9,153 feet mean sea level. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2686W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2686W-2015-01-29), registration cancelled 2015-01-29, S/N 3321, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3321 - Airframe hours: 3336.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James Brian Voss - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2003, 11.6 hours before - Departed: MCW, Mason City, IA - Destination: APA, Englewood, CO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: APA, Centennial Airport, runway 28, 4,903 × 62 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 13, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 254 total, 95 in this make and model, 139 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: APA, 1 nm away 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.