Mooney M20M accident near Banner Elk, North Carolina, June 6, 2006
On June 6, 2006 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Mooney M20M, registered N1046P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Banner Elk, North Carolina (Elk River Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2006 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Banner Elk, North Carolina · Elk River Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20M · all M20Ms on the register
- Registration
- N1046P · no longer on the register · serial 27-0331
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that when he had the airport insight he canceled his IFR flight plan, and entered the left downwind for runway 12. He made an unusually steep and fast final approach. The pilot stated that midway down the runway he realized that he was too fast, and was afraid to attempt a go-around. The pilot stated that he forced the airplane onto the runway, and overran the end of the runway into a ravine. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical or flight control problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,430 hours in all; 116 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,430 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 120.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 2006; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,360 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AF1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GAI Gaithersburg MD at 3:30 pm
- Destination: NC06 Banner Elk NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 12, 4,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:44 pm from KTNB, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.