# NTSB WPR14LA343: Mooney M20F, N7786M, Rimrock, AZ, August 13, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 2014, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Rimrock, AZ - Coordinates: 34.650554, -111.786109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6506&lon=-111.7861&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89864 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA343 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89864/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89864 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA343 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll on a wet sloping runway and his decision to go around before the airplane was configured for takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he obtained weather briefings for the cross-country flight and that, during the flight, the weather was not improving as anticipated. The visibility was above visual flight rule minimums and the ceiling was greater than 2,000 ft above ground level, but he wanted to land and obtain an updated weather briefing. The pilot decided to land at the nearest airport. He reported that he had not landed at this airport before and did not know the runway was sloped downhill. Further, the runway was wet. When he applied the brakes during the landing roll, the airplane started to skid. He decided to go around but did not get the flaps up before the airplane travelled off the end of the runway and impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll and then made the decision to go around before the airplane was configured for takeoff. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 2014, about 0730 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20F airplane, N7786M, collided with terrain during a go-around at the Rimrock Airport (48AZ), Rimrock, Arizona. The private pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The flight departed Show Low Regional Airport (KSOW), Show Low, Arizona, about 0630 and was destined for Apple Valley, California. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that he received several weather briefings, but the weather was not improving as anticipated. The visibility was above visual flight rule (VFR) minimums, and the ceiling was greater than 2,000 ft above ground level, but he wanted to land, and get an updated weather briefing. He decided to land at the nearest airport, which was the Rimrock Airport. He said he had not landed there previously, and did not know the runway was sloped downhill. It had rained earlier, the runway was wet, and when he applied the brakes the airplane started to skid. He decided to go-around but did not get the flaps up before the airplane travelled off the end of the runway and impacted terrain. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7786M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7786M-2018-03-06), registration cancelled 2018-03-06, S/N 22-0034, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-0034 - Year built: 1974 - Engines: LYCOMING I0360 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2014 - Departed: KSOW, Show Low, AZ - Destination: KAPV, Apple Valley, CA - Airport: 48AZ, Rimrock, runway 23, 2,300 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 17, 2013; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast ## 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 20140813015589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140813015589A), Aug 13, 2014: Mooney M20F, Rim Rock, AZ, Destroyed. Aircraft departed show low, (sow) airport at approximately 06:20AM with a destination to apple valley California. While the aircraft was heading to apple… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89864. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478987&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (Departure Airport) (item 3, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478988&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20(Departure%20Airport)-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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.