# NTSB DEN82DA189: Mooney M20E, N5666Q, Falcon, CO, September 10, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: September 10, 1982, 13:35 local (19:35 UTC)
- Place: Falcon, CO
- Coordinates: 39.029705, -104.479682 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0297&lon=-104.4797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70662
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82DA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70662/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA189

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - uphill (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - performance data - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - lowering of flaps - not selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - uncontrolled, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

ACFT WAS OBSERVED TAKING OFF DOWNWIND ON AN UPHILL GRADIENT RWY. THE ACFT ROTATED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE LIFTING OFF INTO A 40-45 DEG ANGLE OF CLIMB & STALLING. THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS STARTED ABEAM THE RUNUP PAD WHICH PROVIDED 3,500 FT FOR TAKEOFF. AN ADDITIONAL 700 FT OF BLACKTOP & 1,300 FT OF USABLE DIRT RWY WAS AVAILABLE SOUTH OF THE RUNUP PAD. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 9,887 FT. FLAPS WERE NOT USED. PERFORMANCE DATA FROM THE MANUFACTURER USING FIGURES FOR A M20J (HIGHER PERFORMANCE ACFT) SHOWED THAT UNDER THE EXISTING CONDITIONS & USING TAKEOFF FLAPS OF 15 DEG APPROXIMATELY 2,406 FT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THE TAKEOFF ROLL WITH AN ADDITIONAL 15,983 FT REQUIRED TO CLEAR A 50 FT OBSTACLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5666Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 689
- Airframe hours: 1922
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Dr. Eugene I. Buettner/Don Bym
- Registered owner: Dr. Eugene I. Buettner/Don Bym
- Departed: 00V, FALCON, CO
- Destination: MLC, MCALISTER, OK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 00V, Meadow Lake, runway 33, 5,000 × 35 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 572 total, 180 in this make and model, 558 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Temperature: 178 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: COS, 12 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820910047149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820910047149A), Sep 10, 1982: Mooney M20E, Falcon, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted downwind takeoff from 9887 foot density altitude airport. Aircraft crashed off end of runway.

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.

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