Mooney M20J accident near Durango, Colorado, August 10, 2004
On August 10, 2004 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N6212Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durango, Colorado (Durango-Animas Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in a stall. Factors contributing to the accident were the wind gusts, the downdraft, and the road.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2004 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · Durango-Animas Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N6212Q · no longer on the register · serial 24-0031
- 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 on final from a visual approach, at approximately 300 feet above ground level, the airplane began to sink rapidly. The pilot said he applied full power, and barely cleared a drop-off on the approach end of the runway. He also said that the stall warning horn was sounding. The pilot said the right wing dropped, and the airplane contacted the runway and veered to the right, coming to rest off the right edge of the runway. In his statement to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot said he encountered a downdraft, applied power, but didn't have enough altitude to recover. An examination of the accident scene showed the airplane struck the south side of a service road located 24 feet from the approach end of the runway causing substantial damage to the right wing, right main landing gear, and fuselage. The airplane then veered across the approach end of the runway and came to rest off the right side. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. Approximately 30 minutes following the accident, the Aviation Routine Weather Report for Durango/La Plata County Airport, (DRO) 7 nautical miles southeast of the accident scene, was winds 340 degrees at 10 knots, clear skies, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 82 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 35 degrees F, altimeter 30.27 inches, and remarks, peak wind 330 degrees at 32 knots, occurring approximately 3 minutes before the accident. The remarks also included lightning and thunderstorms northeast, south, and southwest of DRO.
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: 563 hours in all; 182 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5CO0 Durango CO
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 10:34 pm from DRO, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.