Mooney M20C accident near Big Piney, Wyoming, July 3, 1999
On July 3, 1999 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N6253U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Piney, Wyoming (Big Piney-Marbleton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were 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 directional control of the aircraft during landing touchdown. A related factor was the gusty crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1999 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Big Piney, Wyoming · Big Piney-Marbleton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6253U · no longer on the register · serial 2092
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to touching down on runway 13, a 'strong crosswind gust' caused the left wing of the aircraft to impact the runway. The nose went forward and the propeller also struck the runway. The aircraft then departed the runway onto an open dirt field. The pilot was able to slow the airplane down, steer it back onto the runway, and taxi to the ramp under the aircraft's own power. The pilot stated that the winds at the time he landed were from 220 degrees at 17 knots. The crosswind component at the time the aircraft landed was 17 knots. According to Mooney Aircraft Flight Test, the 1962 Mooney M20C Airplane Flight Manual does not provide maximum demonstrated crosswind component information because it was not required for FAA certification.
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: 164 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 164 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,268 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 27, 1999; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Broomfield CO at 4:30 pm
- Destination: JAC Jackson WY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13, 6,803 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 20 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from BPI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N6253U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.