Mooney M20R accident near Wichita, Kansas, August 14, 2007
On August 14, 2007 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Mooney M20R, registered N395MR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wichita, Kansas (Colonel James Jabara Airport). It was a business 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 and recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing factors are the lack of experience of the pilot and the delayed remedial action of the airline transport pilot rated passenger.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2007 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Wichita, Kansas · Colonel James Jabara Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20R · all M20Rs on the register
- Registration
- N395MR · registry record · serial 29-0425
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the preflight and local flight in the traffic pattern were normal. While on final approach to runway 18, the landing gear and flaps were extended and the airspeed was between 78 and 82 knots. During touchdown, the airplane bounced and the pilot "felt it was hard." The pilot then applied full throttle in an attempt to execute a go-around. The pilot reported that after he applied full power, there was "no power response from the aircraft." Subsequently, the airplane drifted to the right, contacted the terrain between the runway and taxiway, and came to rest on the side of the taxiway. The pilot-rated passenger reported, "To sum it up, it was a bad landing that we didn't recover from." Company policies and procedures for flight operations specify that for a company pilot to be assigned to serve as a crewmember during a demonstration flight, they must have a minimum of 200 hours total flight time, 25 hours in make, and a private pilot certificate with an instrument rating. The pilot, an employee of the company, reported he had approximately 60 total flight hours, 15 flight hours in make and model. The passenger, a contract pilot for the company, reported she had approximately 7,600 total flight hours and 55 to 60 flight hours in the accident airplane make and model. The private pilot and passenger stated to the investigator-in-charge and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that the private pilot was pilot in command during the accident flight. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the airframe or engine.
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
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 165 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,374 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mooney Airplane Company
The flight
- Departed from: AAO Wichita KS at 7:00 pm
- Destination: AAO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,101 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from KAAO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.