Mooney M20E accident near Marble Canyon, Arizona, October 15, 2022
On October 15, 2022 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1965 Mooney M20E, registered N6031Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Marble Canyon, Arizona (Marble Canyon 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 loss of directional control during a takeoff from a rough, narrow runway, resulting in an aborted takeoff and subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2022 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marble Canyon, Arizona · Marble Canyon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E, built 1965 · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N6031Q · registry record · serial 876
- 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 during the takeoff roll he noticed a vibration, and a possible loss of power, and the airplane veered to the left off the narrow (35 ft) runway when he decided to abort the takeoff. He therefore aborted the takeoff and subsequently the airplane impacted a dirt berm and came to rest in a ditch. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was run at various power settings with no anomalies noted. The pilot subsequently stated that he had since flown in another Mooney after the accident and, having experienced the effect of a rough surface on the landing gear, that the vibrations were likely an effect of the rough runway surface on the nose gear.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 604.3 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 26.4 in the last 90 days; 3.9 in the last 30 days; 469.3 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 3, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,062.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 2022; 12.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 SER (piston); 3,062 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HND Henderson NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,715 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from KPGA, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPGA 151453Z AUTO 31004KT 10SM CLR 15/M05 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP137 T01501050 53012 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 16, 2024. 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 | Memorandum for Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Examination Summary Report | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Chart Supplement Sw U.s. | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | 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.