Mooney M20F accident near Mckinnon, Tennessee, April 19, 2012
On April 19, 2012 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N9722M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Mckinnon, Tennessee (Houston County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed decision to go-around after failing to recognize that he was attempting to land with a tailwind, and his failure to retract the landing gear and wing flaps for the go-around, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain near the departure end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2012 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mckinnon, Tennessee · Houston County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9722M · no longer on the register · serial 670199
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on approach to runway 8, a 3,000-foot-long runway. The airplane was high and fast, and the pilot attempted to perform a go-around; however, the airplane was not able to climb before impacting trees, located about 700 feet beyond the end of the runway. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation nor did the pilot report any. The airplane was found after the accident with the landing gear extended and the wing flaps in the full down position. Witnesses reported that the wind was from the west at 10 to 15 knots, at the time of the accident. In addition, the pilot reported that the wind had shifted from east to west and that he did not note the position of the airport wind sock prior to landing. He also stated that the 3,000 foot-long runway was the shortest runway he had attempted to land on. Had the pilot retracted the landing gear and the flaps during the attempted go-around, he should have been able to execute a successful go-around.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › TE flap control system › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 30, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,517 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0M5 Waverly TN at 4:00 pm
- Destination: M93 Mckinnon TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from HOP, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.