Mooney M20 accident near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, July 2, 2009
On July 2, 2009 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20, registered N270SD, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Steamboat Springs, Colorado (Steamboat Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper pitch control during the go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2009 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Steamboat Springs, Colorado · Steamboat Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20 · all M20s on the register
- Registration
- N270SD · no longer on the register · serial 27-0256
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to departing on a 108-nautical-mile cross-country flight, the private pilot reported that he remained in the traffic pattern for one touch-and-go landing. The airplane was flown at a slower than normal speed on the downwind and base legs. The airplane crossed 30 feet above the runway "numbers" at 67 to 68 knots. The pilot reduced engine power for the landing and the airplane stalled at approximately 7 to 10 feet above the runway. After experiencing a hard landing, the airplane bounced back into the air and the pilot elected to perform a go-around. The pilot selected full power and pulled back on the yoke to avoid nosewheel contact with the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane became airborne, but he was at a slower than normal airspeed. At approximately 10 to 20 feet above the runway, the airplane entered a second stall, rolled left and impacted terrain. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. No preimpact anomalies were detected during a postaccident inspection.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 316 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 229 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 11, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 607 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 2009; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,368 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AF1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSBS Steamboat Springs CO
- Destination: KAPA Denver CO
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 32, 4,452 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.