Mooney M20K accident near N Little Rock, Arkansas, May 9, 1997
On May 9, 1997 at about 1:10 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N262JM, was substantially damaged in an accident near N Little Rock, Arkansas (North Little Rock airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 maintain aircraft control. A factor was the pilot's failure to use the proper aborted landing procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1997 · about 1:10 pm local time
- Place
- N Little Rock, Arkansas · North Little Rock · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N262JM · no longer on the register · serial 25-1224
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane landed about 200 feet beyond runway 35's numbers. After landing, the 'plane reacted as if it had been hit by a gust of wind, causing the nose to go straight up and the left wing to drop quickly.' He corrected for the airplane's attitude and 'applied full throttle' in an effort to abort the landing. 'At this time, I was approximately 15 feet off of the ground and I also pushed the lever to retract my landing gear.' The airplane 'continued to sink and it seemed incapable of gaining speed or altitude.' The airplane crossed a grassy area on the left side of the runway, touched down on the parking ramp, and struck a parked Piper PA-32 airplane. Both airplanes came to rest against an embankment. Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector revealed no evidence of any pre-mishap discrepancies. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the procedure for making a go-around was to apply power to 36' MP and 2,700 RPM, mixture to full rich, flaps (after climb established) to takeoff position, trim to nose down, accelerate to 77 KIAS, landing gear retract, flaps retract, cowl flap open, and accelerate to 94 KIAS.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 39 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1997; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-MB1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWA Oklahoma City OK at 11:30 am
- Destination: 1M1
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,009 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.