Mooney M20E accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, January 31, 1999
On January 31, 1999 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20E, registered N5658Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Coronado 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 takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1999 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Coronado Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N5658Q · no longer on the register · serial 685
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed on runway 35, and the wind was west-northwest, 3 to 5 knots. He departed on the same runway approximately 15 minutes later. At approximately 20 feet above ground level, the flight controls became mushy, and the airplane went into an uncommanded roll to the left. After the pilot exited the airplane, he noted that there was a gully perpendicular to the runway's left side right at the location where he lost control. He further noted that the wind was now 200 to 220 degrees, 8 to 12 knots.
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: 417 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 380 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,738 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 1998; 104 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4AC at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,010 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from ABQ, 9 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.