Probable cause
The pilot’s inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and subsequent failure to maintain directional control of the airplane.
NTSB analysis
On the pilot’s second landing attempt, the airplane landed hard on the main landing gear and bounced. The pilot lost control during the bounce, resulting in the airplane touching down hard on the nose landing gear. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid sideways off of the runway. The airplane impacted obstructions and both main landing gear legs collapsed, causing substantial damage to the fuselage and the left wing. The pilot reported that his airspeed was too fast and that the accident would not have happened if he had aborted the landing after the first hard bounce.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11CA583 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 23, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Cresson, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Bourland Field Airport (50F)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Dusk
Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K
- N-number
- N1149D
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.