Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On October 8, 2004, approximately 1130 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20E single-engine airplane, N14DV, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain and a fence following a loss of control while performing touch and go maneuvers at Jeffco Airport, Broomfield, Colorado. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Advantage Aviation Inc., Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed Jeffco Airport approximately 1110.

According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated he was performing touch and go landings to Runway 29L. On the approach, the pilot configured and stabilized the airplane for landing and "all seemed to be in order." After crossing the runway threshold, the pilot felt the speed and sink rate were too fast. The airplane touched down and bounced twice. At that point, the pilot added power to abort the landing. The airplane drifted to the left and began to porpoise. Subsequently, the airplane skipped across the grass adjacent to the runway, went down an embankment, and came to rest upright against a chain-linked fence.

An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported both wings were bent, the fuselage and empennage were wrinkled. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. In addition, the pilot did not have a complex airplane endorsement in his logbook. the pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing during a touch and go maneuver. Contributing factors were the excessive airspeed and descent rate during the approach.