Mooney M20J accident near Springfield, Tennessee, March 16, 2013
On March 16, 2013 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N3545H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Springfield, Tennessee (Springfield - Robertson County). It was a personal 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 failure to maintain airplane control while landing in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 2013 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Tennessee · Springfield - Robertson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N3545H · registry record · serial 24-1036
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, and as corroborated by the pilot-rated passenger, the pilot first completed two touch-and-go landings with wind at 14 knots, gusting to 22 knots directly down the runway. The pilot then attempted a third landing and, approaching the touchdown point, the airplane yawed 30 to 45 degrees to the right, then back to the left of centerline. It subsequently rolled to the left, the left wing tip impacted the ground, and the pilot added full power. The airplane continued to the left, the pilot reduced power, and the airplane settled into the grass. It then skidded across a ramp and impacted a hangar and a fuel pump. Photographs revealed substantial damage to the outboard leading edge of the left wing and a left-arcing runway scrape mark toward the hangar. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
- 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 › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,900 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 9, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 SER A&C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M91 Springfield TN
- Destination: M91 Springfield TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,505 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 1:30 pm from M91
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.