# NTSB WPR24LA264: Mooney M20F, N9954L, Carrizozo, NM, August 2, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 2, 2024, 13:04 local (19:04 UTC)
- Place: Carrizozo, NM · About 2 miles s. of airport
- Coordinates: 33.6489, -105.8962 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6489&lon=-105.8962&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194839
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA264
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194839/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194839
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA264

## Probable cause

The airplane’s encounter with a downdraft after takeoff, which resulted in a forced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the airplane reported that, prior to takeoff, he observed adverse weather conditions that were approaching the airport from about 5 to 10 nautical miles away. During takeoff, when the airplane was about 50 feet above the ground, the airplane encountered a downdraft. The airplane’s left wing then dropped and the airplane entered a descent. The airplane impacted terrain and fences, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9954L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9954L), registered now, S/N 670487 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 670487
- Year built: 1967
- Airframe hours: 5062.2
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2024, 20.5 hours before
- Departed: F37, Carrizozo, NM
- Destination: KSAF, Santa Fe, NM
- Airport: F37, Carrizozo Muni, runway 24, 4,944 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown; last flight review June 21, 2024; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,636 total, 243 in this make and model, 1,317 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.50 inHg
- Observed at: KSRR, 22 nm away
- METAR: KSRR 021915Z AUTO 13015G20KT 10SM CLR 29/10 A3050 RMK AO2

## 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 20240802021269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240802021269A), Aug 2, 2024: Mooney M20F, Carrizozo, NM, Substantial damage. On August 2, 2024, at or around 13:11 MST, a Mooney M20F, was involved in an accident just beyond the runway at Carrizozo Municipal Airport (F37), Carrizozo,…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 27, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194839. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17530496&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17530506&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.

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