Mooney M20E accident near Byron, California, January 8, 2024
On January 8, 2024 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 1969 Mooney M20E, registered N9338V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Byron, California (Byron Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 2024 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Byron, California · Byron Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E, built 1969 · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N9338V · registry record · serial 700004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor stated that the airplane landed hard, bounced, and the pilot receiving instruction initiated a go-around at a high pitch attitude. The airplane yawed left and settled to the runway. The airplane subsequently veered off the runway into a grass field, resulting in substantial damage to the left aileron. The flight instructor further stated that becoming slow, and the inadequate application of the rudder could have been contributing factors. Both pilots stated that there were no preaccident failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 landing
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 361.7 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7.2 in the last 30 days; 296.2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 21, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,733 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 126 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 4,560 as pilot in command; 495 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 16, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,530.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 3, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 SER (piston); 19,603 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 7:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KLVK, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLVK 081953Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 11/M01 A3034 RMK AO2 SLP275 T01111006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 25, 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 | Accident Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record | 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.
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.