Mooney M20C accident near Englewood, Colorado, July 1, 2003
On July 1, 2003 at about 7:17 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N2686W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial 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 failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the gusting crosswinds and the high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2003 · about 7:17 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2686W · no longer on the register · serial 3321
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he received instructions to land on runway 28. The pilot set up for a right downwind, base turn , and final approach. The pilot reported, "On final, I had to crab about 20 degrees to the right and lineup for touchdown." The pilot said that in the flare, he transitioned to a slip, and touched down. The pilot said that just after touchdown, a wind gust picked his airplane up about 10 feet off the runway and rolled the airplane into a 20 degree left bank. The pilot said he attempted to go around, but was unable to level the wings or climb. The pilot said the wind blew his airplane off of the runway. About 35 feet left of the runway's edge, the airplane's left wing struck the terrain and the airplane "cartwheeled." An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. Reported winds at the time of the accident were 060 degrees at 6 knots, gusting to 30 knots. A peak wind of 360 degrees at 30 knots was recorded 1 minute after the accident time. Density altitude was 9,152 feet msl.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 254 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 139 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 13, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,336.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2003; 11.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCW Mason City IA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28, 4,903 ft by 62 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 7:27 pm from APA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.