Mooney M20G accident near Benton, Arkansas, May 8, 2010
On May 8, 2010, a Mooney M20G, registered N9221V, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Benton, Arkansas (Saline County Regional 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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the aborted takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 2010
- Place
- Benton, Arkansas · Saline County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20G · all M20Gs on the register
- Registration
- N9221V · no longer on the register · serial 690019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, approximately 20 feet above ground level, the airplane began a right yaw which the pilot corrected through the use of airplane rudder. The airplane then began to bank and yaw left. The pilot reported that the "excessive" amounts of aileron were required to level the airplane's bank. The pilot elected to land the airplane on the remaining runway. During the landing rollout, the right landing gear collapsed, followed shortly by the collapse of the left landing gear and then the nose gear. The airplane came to rest off the left side of the runway. An examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies.
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
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 940 hours in all; 173 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 920 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 21, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,182 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 2009; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,525 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSUZ Benton AR
- Destination: KSLG Siloam Springs AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 5,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KLIT, 15 miles away
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.