Mooney M20M accident near Heber Springs, Arkansas, July 25, 2012
On July 25, 2012 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Mooney M20M, registered N9145L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Heber Springs, Arkansas (Heber Springs Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 flare, which led to a bounced landing and a subsequent loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2012 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Heber Springs, Arkansas · Heber Springs Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20M · all M20Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9145L · no longer on the register · serial 27-0094
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he flared too high and the airplane landed hard and bounced. The airplane subsequently stalled and the left wing dropped. After impact, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and skidded down an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › 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: 923 hours in all; 296 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ATW Appleton WI at 2:40 pm
- Destination: HBZ Heber Springs AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 4,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.