Mooney M20J accident near West Glacier, Montana, June 20, 2021
On June 20, 2021 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1984 Mooney M20J, registered N5765N, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near West Glacier, Montana (Ryan Fld 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 inadequate performance planning and decision to continue the takeoff which, resulted in a runway overrun and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2021 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- West Glacier, Montana · Ryan Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J, built 1984 · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N5765N · no longer on the register · serial 24-1482
- 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, he was departing to the south on a 2,500 ft long grass runway at a mountain airport with an estimated 5,000 ft mean sea level density altitude. The pilot calculated the airplane’s performance using the pilot’s operating handbook, which revealed a takeoff distance of 1,800 ft on grass. According to the pilot, during the takeoff run, the airplane lifted off the ground after traveling between 1,250 ft and 1,870 ft down the runway as the airplane reached 60 mph. However, the airplane touched back down to the runway surface near the end of the runway and impacted fallen timber before it came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that, before his takeoff run, he observed the windsock, which indicated winds from the east at 9 kts. However, wind data retrieved from a nearby station and sounding information indicated that winds may have been from the north at 5 kt, which would have resulted in a tailwind.
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 during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Performance calculations › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 805 hours in all; 409 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 716 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 9, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,306.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 19, 2021; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 549 hours total
- Operator: Integrative Aerospace CORP
The flight
- Destination: S27 Kalispell MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15/3, 2,500 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KGPI, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGPI 202055Z 35005KT 10SM OVC075 21/08 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP203 T02110083 51003 $
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 October 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Email Correspondence with Pilot | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photographs | 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.
Other NTSB records under N5765N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.