Mooney M20F accident near Red Cliff, CO
On August 23, 1995, a Mooney M20F (airplane) was involved in an accident near Red Cliff, CO. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 23, 1995
- Place
- Red Cliff, CO
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.501°N, 106.361°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04226
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 23, 1995, approximately 1017 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Mooney M20F, N3768N, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering 7 miles southeast of Red Cliff, Colorado. The two commercial pilots were fatally injured. The flight, conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91, originated at Watkins, Colorado, approximately 0800 MDT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. According to the airplane operator, the pilots were employed by the operator as flight instructors. They had reserved the airplane the day before the accident, and indicated they were going to make a local flight. According to the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), however, the pilots told the airport receptionist they were planning to fly in the mountains, with possible landings at Eagle and Aspen, Colorado, and would return about 1300. CAP said this information was corroborated by the pilot's girl friend. When the pilots failed to return, an ALNOT (alert notice) was issued. The fixed base operator at Leadville, Colorado, reported N3768N landed at the airport at 0930 MDT. She said as the airplane taxied towards the ramp, the engine quit and she suspected the pilot had not leaned the fuel mixture for the airport's high elevation (Leadville Airport is 9,927 feet above mean sea level). She said the pilot restarted the engine and taxied the airplane up to the operations office. The right seat occupant got out and came into the office while the other pilot remained in the airplane with its engine running. He asked for and w
Probable cause
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE FLIGHT CREW, AND THEIR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, RISING TERRAIN, THE FLIGHT CREW'S LACK OF MOUNTAIN FLYING EXPERIENCE, AND OVERCONFIDENCE IN THEIR PERSONAL ABILITIES.
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Browse: Colorado · Mooney aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
