Mooney M20F N9628M

Summary

On 8 September 2024 at about 13:50 local time, a Mooney M20F registered N9628M was involved in an accident near Cottonwood, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 September 2024 at 13:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Cottonwood, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Cottonwood (P52)

Coordinates

34.7167, -112.0284

Aircraft

Mooney M20F

Registration

N9628M

Category

Airplane

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Phoenix → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24LA305

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s evasive maneuver to avoid birds while on final approach at a low altitude, which resulted in the airplane colliding with a tree.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was on final approach to the destination airport. Witnesses observed the airplane flying at a low altitude and heard the engine operating as it maneuvered toward the airport. The airplane appeared to encounter a flock of about 20 birds that rose from a dead tree about 35 ft above the ground. The airplane pitched up and turned left, consistent with the pilot attempting an evasive maneuver to avoid the birds. The airplane collided with a tree and residence. The pilot succumbed to his injuries and could not be interviewed. No bird DNA or feather fragments were detected in samples taken from the airplane. Although no physical evidence of a bird strike was identified, witness observations indicated that the pilot maneuvered to avoid birds that had risen into the airplane’s flight path. Witnesses observed the airplane flying at a low altitude as it approached the airport. The pilot likely did not have sufficient altitude to recover from the evasive maneuver before the airplane collided with a tree.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.