Mooney M20R accident near Destin, Florida, April 5, 2006
On April 5, 2006 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20R, registered N4654M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Destin, Florida (Destin-Ft. Walton Beach airport). 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 airspeed while attempting a go-around at a low altitude which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush, an uncontrolled descent and an impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2006 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Destin, Florida · Destin-Ft. Walton Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20R · all M20Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4654M · registry record · serial 29-0370
- 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 he made a smooth touchdown on the runway centerline, and after a "couple hundred feet", a strong gust of wind blew him to the left toward the runway edge lights. He said he made the decision to go around, applied full throttle, and "pulled up sharply" to avoid hitting the runway lights. He further stated that the stall warning then activated, so he lowered the nose of the airplane but "apparently did not have sufficient airspeed to maintain altitude. He said he tried to turn back to the runway, but felt a sudden "spin" to the left about 30 degrees, as the airplane impacted the ground. Prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 540 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 3,368 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O-550-G7B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HBG Hattiesburg MS at 10:30 pm
- Destination: DTS Destin FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 4,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from DTS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.