Mooney M20J accident near Scottsdale, AZ
On November 22, 1996, a Mooney M20J (airplane) was involved in an accident near Scottsdale, AZ. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 22, 1996
- Place
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.609°N, 111.890°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07059
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 21, 1996, at 2026 hours mountain standard time, a Mooney M20J, N5766K, veered off the runway after a hard landing and collided with two other parked aircraft at the Scottsdale, Arizona, airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the commercial pilot and his two passengers received fatal injuries. The aircraft was operated as a personal flight by the pilot/owner when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Casa Grande, Arizona, about 2000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The tower controller reported that the pilot made about a 7-mile straight-in approach to runway 03. The pilot did not report having monitored to the ATIS frequency when he made his initial request for a landing clearance. Also, the controller did not advise the pilot that the VASI lights for the landing runway were inoperative. The controller observed the aircraft over the runway end identifier lights before he looked away. When he looked up again, he saw a cloud of dust near the end of the runway. The operator attempted to call the pilot and then picked up the crash phone to notify emergency personnel. A witness about 100 yards from the scene reported seeing the aircraft in a 90-degree left bank over the runway. He stated that the aircraft began to level off, but temporarily dropped from view behind some parked aircraft. He reported hearing the aircraft engine accelerate and saw dust rising in the aircraft's vicinity. When the aircraft reappeared, it was in a near level attitude on an approximate heading of 330 degrees.
Probable cause
the pilot misjudged the landing flare and failed to maintain directional control after a hard bounced landing.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona · 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.
