Mooney Airplane CO INC M20TN accident near Durango, Colorado, December 2, 2012
On December 2, 2012 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Mooney Airplane CO INC M20TN, registered N562BG, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Durango, Colorado (Animas Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain airplane control during the go-around maneuver.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 2012 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · Animas Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney Airplane CO INC M20TN
- Registration
- N562BG · registry record · serial 31-0031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane bounced twice during landing. The pilot said that after the second bounce, he added full throttle for a go-around and that the airplane began to drift to the left side of the runway centerline. Just as the airplane began to climb, the pilot retracted the landing gear and flaps, and the nose of the airplane immediately pitched up. The right wingtip struck the runway surface, and the airplane veered sharply to the right and impacted terrain on the right side of the runway. The impact resulted in the collapse of the landing gear and substantial damage to the engine mount, firewall, fuselage, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure and that he just failed to maintain control of the airplane during the landing.
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 approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
- Runway excursion
- Landing gear collapse during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,498 hours in all; 108 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 24, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 214 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2012; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-550-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 00C Durango CO at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 00C Durango CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,010 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KDRO, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N562BG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.