Mooney M20R accident near Hailey, Idaho, July 6, 2004
On July 6, 2004 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20R, registered N1054K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hailey, Idaho (Friedman Memorial 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 improper flare, failure to maintain directional control, and inadequate remedial action, which resulted in the airplane impacting a taxiway sign along the side of the runway. A factor contributing to the accident was the taxiway sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2004 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hailey, Idaho · Friedman Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20R · all M20Rs on the register
- Registration
- N1054K · registry record · serial 29-0266
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the airplane crossed the threshold the pilot pulled the power back to idle, but as his landing gear touched the runway the airplane suddenly bounced twice. The pilot attempted to abort the landing by adding full power, raising the flaps, and retracting the landing gear, but the plane would not accelerate or climb. The airplane stayed in ground effect, weaving back and forth, then exited the runway to the right before impacting a taxiway sign with its left wing. The airplane subsequently swung around to the left, coming to rest in an upright position facing west. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing root area and main spar. Reported wind at the time of the accident was 270 degrees at 8 knots.
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
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 1,650 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 2,085 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 13, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 19, 2003; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,368 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT at 8:15 pm
- Destination: SUN Hailey ID
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 6,602 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,681 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from SUN
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.