Mooney M20K accident near Fairmont, West Virginia, August 30, 2024
On August 30, 2024 at about 7:16 pm local time, a 1989 Mooney M20K, registered N1005U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Fairmont, West Virginia (Fairmont Muni-Frankman Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and his delay in aborting the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2024 · about 7:16 pm local time
- Place
- Fairmont, West Virginia · Fairmont Muni-Frankman Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K NO SERIES, built 1989 · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N1005U · registry record · serial 25-1210
- 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 while en route to his destination he diverted to an alternate airport due to low cloud cover. After reviewing the runway length at the diversion airport, he overflew it then entered the airport traffic pattern for landing. He turned onto the base and final legs of the airport traffic pattern, and while on final approach, he recognized the airplane was fast but continued the approach. He reported that the airplane touched down too far down the runway, with a witness indicating that the airplane touched down past the last crossing taxiway, which resulted in about 836 ft of runway remaining. After touchdown the pilot stated that he applied the airplane’s brakes momentarily, but in that instant, he knew he was fast and added power to abort the landing. The engine responded and he fully retracted the flaps. During the subsequent climb out, the airplane impacted trees and then the ground. The airplane’s fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,497 hours in all; 454 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,430 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 16, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,879 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 2024; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-360-MB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GWB Auburn IN at 5:11 pm
- Destination: RMN Stafford VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 5, 2,965 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KCKB, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCKB 301853Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 35/13 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP180 T03500133=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – FAA Digital Photograph. Right Side View of the Airplane at the Accident Site
Photograph 2 – FAA Digital Photograph. Left Rear Quartering View of the Airplane At the Accident Site. Note the Compression Wrinkles in the Left Side of the Fuselage
Photograph 3 – FAA Digital Photograph. Right Rear Quartering View of the Airplane At the Accident Site. Note the Compression Wrinkles in the Right Side of the Aft Fuselage
Photograph 4 – FAA Digital Photograph. View of the Nearly Completely Fractured Left WingThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on January 21, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot Initial Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Memorandum for Record - Witness Account, Witness and Touch Down Locations | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Record of NTSB Conversation | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Automatic Dependent Surveillance A�� Broadcast (ADS-B) Tabular Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 7 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | 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.