Mooney M20C N1204X accident near Plano, Texas

Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a climbing turn during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.

NTSB analysis

The pilot attempted a landing at the airport and subsequently conducted a go-around. During the go-around, witnesses observed the airplane’s left wing dip perpendicular to the ground before the airplane entered a near-vertical descent. According to a study conducted with video evidence, the airplane transitioned from stable flight at a speed close to the airplane’s stall speed to flight with a large bank angle and crashed shortly thereafter.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted in a nose-low attitude and came to rest inverted; a postimpact fire ensued, destroying the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot’s medical history and age placed him at increased risk of medical impairment or sudden incapacitation. Whether such impairment or incapacitation occurred on the accident flight could not be determined from available medical evidence; however, witness observations and the video data are consistent with the pilot losing control of the airplane during a climbing turn during a go-around, which resulted in exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for recovery.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24FA042 for the full record.