Event FTW98LA224

Factual narrative

On May 16, 1998, at 1830 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20F, N6444Q, settled onto the ground during a go-around from a balked landing at Telluride Regional Airport, Telluride, Colorado. The private pilot and sole occupant was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this cross-country flight which originated from Moscow, Kansas, at 1530. No flight plan was filed. According to the pilot's accident report, he contacted the airport for a weather advisory prior to landing and was told that the winds were favoring runway 9. He flew over the airport and noted the wind direction indicator favored runway 9 as the recommended runway. While on final approach, he added full flaps and established an approach speed of 90 mph. Prior to touchdown, he received another report on the radio that the wind had shifted to 220 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots. Calculated density altitude at the time was 11,041 feet above mean sea level, and the angle between the runway and the wind was 130 degrees. Given the reported wind speed of 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots, the crosswind and tailwind component values fall off the wind component chart. The values at the chart limits are 12 knots and 10 knots respectively. (See attached wind component chart.) According to Mooney Aircraft Flight Test, the demonstrated cross wind component is 13 knots and there is no demonstrated tail wind component. According to witnesses, the airplane touched down and as it was rolling out, the "aircraft suddenly became airborne [about 35 feet] in a nose down configuration." The pilot applied full power and retracted the landing gear. He "flew the aircraft approximately half way down the runway at about 20 feet above the ground, 10 feet left of the runway," then hit the ground. According to the airport manager, the airplane bounced twice after landing. The pilot added power and raised the landing gear. The aircraft then struck taxiway A2, approximately 4,800 feet from the approach end of runway 9. He bounced once, then landed in a drainage ditch. According to the aircraft owners' manual, "the base leg should be flown at 90 mph. Upon turning final...the aircraft will glide hands-off at approximately 80 mph." Additionally, the manual states, "under no circumstances should the aircraft be allowed to touch down in a nose-low attitude or at too high an airspeed." Post accident examination of the aircraft revealed that the propeller was destroyed, and the wings and lower fuselage sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot, he contacted the airport for a weather advisory prior to landing and was told that the winds were favoring runway 9. Prior to touchdown, he received a report on the radio that the wind had shifted to 220 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots. The airplane touched down and as it was rolling out, the aircraft became airborne. The pilot applied full power and retracted the landing gear. He flew the aircraft approximately half way down the runway at about 20 feet above the ground, hit the ground, bounced once, then landed in a drainage ditch. Calculated density altitude at the time was 11,041 feet above mean sea level, and the angle between the runway and the wind was 130 degrees. Given the reported wind speed of 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots, the crosswind and tailwind component values fall off the wind component chart. The values at the chart limits are 12 knots and 10 knots respectively. According to Mooney Aircraft Flight Test, the demonstrated cross wind component is 13 knots and there is no demonstrated tail wind component. The propeller was destroyed, and the wings and lower fuselage sustained substantial damage. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12