Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Denver, Colorado
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca
Location: Buena Vista, Colorado
Accident Number: CEN20LA268
Date & Time: July 7, 2020, 13:44 Local
Registration: C-GTVS
Aircraft: Mooney M20TN
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Factual Information
On July 7, 2020, about 1344 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20TN airplane, Canadian registration C-GTVS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Central Colorado Regional Airport, Buena Vista, Colorado. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot stated that he was on a cross-country flight from Canada to California and stopped in Buena Vista to refuel the airplane. During the takeoff, the pilot did not establish a positive rate of climb and looked down to adjust the engine mixture and put on his oxygen nose piece. He stated that during the takeoff sequence he was not paying attention to his airspeed and altitude. The pilot looked up and the right main landing gear hit the terrain very hard at an estimated speed of 150 to 160 knots. The pilot attempted to maintain control, and the airplane came to rest on the runway. A postimpact fire ensued, and the pilot sustained serious injuries as he exited the airplane.The airplane sustained substantial damage from the postimpact fire.
The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
A witness, who was located at the airport, reported that he observed the airplane takeoff from runway 15 with no problems noted. The airplane then suddenly impacted the runway surface, and a postimpact fire ensued. The witness responded to the accident location to assist the pilot. The pilot reported to the witness that he "went to get his oxygen nose piece and impacted runway."
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 59, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 750 hours (Total, all aircraft), 50 hours (Total, this make and model)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Mooney
Registration: C-GTVS
Model/Series: M20TN No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2007
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 31-0028
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: July 5, 2018
Annual Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3366 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: TSIO-550-G
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 280 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: AEJ,7950 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 13:55 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 12000 ft AGL
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 18 knots / 25 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 150°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.22 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / -3°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Buena Vista, CO (AEJ)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Van Nuys, CA (VNY)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 13:44 Local
Type of Airspace: Class E
Airport Information
Airport: Central Colorado Regional AEJ
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 7950 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 15
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 8303 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 38.81361,-106.121391(est)
If you are in control of a moving vehicle in an accident, any vehicle be it air ground or water, you are moving. And the faster you are moving, the faster your perception of speed gets lost. He probably thought he only was head down "for a second or two" but most certainly it was many seconds and enough time to cover a lot of feet forward and feet vertical (which is clearly what happened around the vertical foot loss). It's the classic example of what happens to drivers going down the interstate at 75mph taking their eyes off the road for "only" three seconds thinking in their minds it was just a blink of an eye. Yet in that time they've covered nearly one and a third football field in distance (330 feet to be exact). This bozo didn't even know what his airspeed and altitude was after takeoff because he was more worried about other things. He makes distracted drivers on their dumb phones checking Facebook look brilliant.
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