Mooney Airplane CO INC M20TN accident near Hilton Head, South Carolina, July 24, 2012
On July 24, 2012 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Mooney Airplane CO INC M20TN, registered N212D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Hilton Head, South Carolina (Hilton Head 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 directional control while landing in a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2012 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Hilton Head, South Carolina · Hilton Head Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney Airplane CO INC M20TN
- Registration
- N212D · registry record · serial 31-0126
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during the landing roll on runway 21, the airplane encountered a strong crosswind and veered sharply to the left. He attempted to correct the movement with aileron and rudder inputs and by retracting the flaps. The airplane continued left, departed the left side of the runway, and the left wing struck a taxiway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing. The recorded wind was from 250 degrees at 6 knots about the time of the accident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, nor did the pilot report any.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 23, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 325 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 2012; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,368 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-550-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL at 12:50 pm
- Destination: HXD Hilton Head SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 4,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from KHXD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.