NTSB Factual Report

On August 10, 2004, at 1605 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N6212Q, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted the edge of a road, just prior to the approach end of runway 01 at the Durango-Animas Air Park (5CO0), Durango, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers on board reported no injuries. A third passenger on board sustained minor injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Albuquerque, New Mexico, at 1440.

The pilot reported that on final from a visual approach, at approximately 300 feet above ground level, the airplane began to sink rapidly. The pilot said he applied full power, and barely cleared a drop-off on the approach end of the runway. He also said that the stall warning horn was sounding. The pilot said the right wing dropped, and the airplane contacted the runway and veered to the right, coming to rest off the right edge of the runway. In his statement to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot said he encountered a downdraft, applied power, but didn't have enough altitude to recover.

An examination of the accident scene showed the airplane struck the south side of a service road located 24 feet from the approach end of the runway. The airplane then veered across the approach end of the runway and came to rest off the right side. The airplane's right wing was bent aft and upward. The right wing flap and right main landing gear were broken aft. The airplane's fuselage was bent and wrinkled aft of the baggage compartment. The propeller blades showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.

At 1634, the Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) for Durango/La Plata County Airport (DRO), 7 nautical miles southeast of the accident scene, was winds 340 degrees at 10 knots, clear skies, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 82 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 35 degrees F, altimeter 30.27 inches, and remarks, peak wind 330 degrees at 32 knots occurring at 1602. The remarks also included lightning and thunderstorms northeast, south, and southwest of DRO.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in a stall. Factors contributing to the accident were the wind gusts, the downdraft, and the road.