NTSB Factual Report

On August 13, 2014, about 0749 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20F airplane, N7786M, was substantially damaged during a collision with terrain, following an aborted landing at the Rimrock Airport (48AZ), Lake Montezuma, Arizona. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed; the pilot received minor injuries and the sole passenger received serious injuries. The airplane departed Show Low Regional Airport (KSOW), Show Low, Arizona, bound for Apple Valley, California, about 0630.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 20, the pilot said he had received several weather briefings for the cross-country flight, but the weather was not improving as anticipated. The visibility was above VFR minimums, and the ceiling was greater than 2,000 feet above ground level, but he wanted to land, and get an updated weather briefing. He elected to land at the nearest airport, which was Rimrock Airport. He said he had not landed there previously, and did not know the runway was downhill. It had rained earlier, the runway was wet, and when he applied the brakes the airplane started to skid. He decided to abort the landing, but did not get the flaps up before the airplane sank off the elevated end of the runway and impacted terrain.

The pilot said there were no mechanical issues with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage.