# NTSB WPR24LA305: Mooney M20F, N9628M, Cottonwood, AZ, September 8, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 8, 2024, 06:50 local (13:50 UTC) - Place: Cottonwood, AZ - Coordinates: 34.716665, -112.02838 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7167&lon=-112.0284&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 195129 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA305 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195129/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195129 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA305 ## Probable cause The pilot’s evasive maneuver to avoid birds while on final approach at a low altitude, which resulted in the airplane colliding with a tree. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [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) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was on final approach to the destination airport. Witnesses observed the airplane flying at a low altitude and heard the engine operating as it maneuvered toward the airport. The airplane appeared to encounter a flock of about 20 birds that rose from a dead tree about 35 ft above the ground. The airplane pitched up and turned left, consistent with the pilot attempting an evasive maneuver to avoid the birds. The airplane collided with a tree and residence. The pilot succumbed to his injuries and could not be interviewed. No bird DNA or feather fragments were detected in samples taken from the airplane. Although no physical evidence of a bird strike was identified, witness observations indicated that the pilot maneuvered to avoid birds that had risen into the airplane’s flight path. Witnesses observed the airplane flying at a low altitude as it approached the airport. The pilot likely did not have sufficient altitude to recover from the evasive maneuver before the airplane collided with a tree. ## Factual narrative On September 08, 2024, about 0650 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20F airplane, N9628M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cottonwood, Arizona. The pilot sustained serious injuries and later succumbed to his injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed from Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona about 0625 with the intention of landing at Cottonwood Airport, Cottonwood, Arizona, and having breakfast with friends. A witness observed the airplane at a low altitude and then pitched up before colliding with a tree. The witness heard the engine operating as the airplane flew at a low altitude before it pitched up. He reported that the engine sound increased immediately before the airplane struck the tree. Another witness, who lives about a block from the impact location, reported the airplane flew very low over his street and appeared to encounter a flock of about 20 birds that rose from a dead tree about 35 feet above the ground. He stated the birds were likely western bluebirds about 7 inches long and that large numbers had been roosting and feeding on berries across the street from his home. He observed the airplane turn left, appear sideways, and then pass out of view. He stated he heard the impact shortly thereafter but did not witness the collision. The airplane came to rest inverted about 2,000 ft from the departure end of runway 32. The right fuel tank was breached and the fuel quantity before impact could not be ascertained. Three gallons of fuel were recovered from the fuel system as part of the retrieval efforts. There was evidence of fuel staining near the fuel caps on the upside-down wings, consistent with fluid in the wing tanks after impact. The landing gear had released from the uplocks but remained partially retracted within the wheel wells. The flaps were extended. A piece of windscreen and numerous swabs of the airframe were sent to the Smithsonian Institution's Feather Identification Lab for examination. No bird DNA or feather fragments were detected in any of the samples. The pilot succumbed to his injuries on October 15, 2024. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9628M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9628M), registered now, S/N 670205, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F - 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: 670205 - Year built: 1966 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KDVT, Phoenix, AZ - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: P52, Cottonwood, runway 14/32, 4,250 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 3,215 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 2 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: KPRC, 20 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 20240908016249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240908016249A), Sep 8, 2024: Mooney M20F, Cottonwood, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft left dvt airport at 0623 to fly to Cottonwood P52 the aircraft made impact with a tree and then flipped over and landed next to a house in Cottonwood. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 29, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195129. 994 KB in all. - Records of conversation (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19751915&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=24LA305-%20Record%20of%20Conversations%20Mooney_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 762 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19751261&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-Rel.pdf - Smithsonian feather memorandum (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19751420&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Zoe%20keihler%202025_Redacted-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.