Mooney M20C accident near Colo Springs, Colorado, March 9, 2003
On March 9, 2003 at about 8:46 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N9313V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colo Springs, Colorado (City Of Colo Sprgs Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during initial climb which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing factors include the downdraft, crosswind and gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2003 · about 8:46 pm local time
- Place
- Colo Springs, Colorado · City Of Colo Sprgs Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9313V · no longer on the register · serial 690091
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the take-off roll was "right on centerline." He rotated after attaining approximately 80 mph, retracted the landing gear, and accelerated to "90 mph." After climbing "approximately 50 to 100 feet in the air," he experienced "a gust and a strong downdraft" and the airplane would not climb. He said the gust and strong downdraft forced the airplane lower and to the right. He lowered the nose of the airplane in an attempt to gain airspeed. All instruments were in the "green" and the last indicated airspeed was 80-85 mph. The airplane impacted the ground approximately 170 feet right of the centerline, and 575 feet beyond the runway's threshold. The airplane slid approximately 140 additional feet. The engine mount was displaced, the firewall was torn, and the fuselage above the windshield was buckled.
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: airline transport pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,703 hours in all; 283 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 3,951 as pilot in command; 1,458 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 16, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,399 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 2002; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AID (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COS Colorado Spring CO at 1:45 pm
- Destination: WDG Enid OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35L, 11,021 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 20 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from COS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.