Mooney International CORP M20TN accident near Holly Ridge, North Carolina, December 30, 2020
On December 30, 2020 at about 10:10 pm local time, a 2015 Mooney International CORP M20TN, registered N728VM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Holly Ridge, North Carolina (Holly Ridge/Topsail Island Air 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 perform a go-around during an unstable approach to land which resulted in a landing area overshoot and a subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 2020 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Holly Ridge, North Carolina · Holly Ridge/Topsail Island Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney International CORP M20TN NO SERIES, built 2015
- Registration
- N728VM · registry record · serial 31-0136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the first landing attempt at the destination airport the airplane was too fast, so he performed a go-around. During his second attempt, he descended and touched down on the runway, however, he overshot his intended landing spot. He added that he did not believe a safe go-around could be performed after the touchdown, so he decided to continue the landing roll and applied max braking, however, the airplane overran the end of the runway and struck mower equipment located to the right of the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
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
- Runway excursion during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,857 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 5,055 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 1,750 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 2, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 269 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550-G (piston); 219 hours total
- Operator: Mbs Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: ILM Wilmington NC at 9:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,591 ft by 88 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from NCA, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KNCA 302256Z AUTO 14003KT 10SM BKN080 14/10 A3029 RMK AO2 SLP259 T01390100
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 13, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Memo for Record (Pilot Statement) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.