Mooney M20F N9628M accident near Cottonwood, Arizona

Probable cause

The pilot’s evasive maneuver to avoid birds while on final approach at a low altitude, which resulted in the airplane colliding with a tree.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was on final approach to the destination airport. Witnesses observed the airplane flying at a low altitude and heard the engine operating as it maneuvered toward the airport. The airplane appeared to encounter a flock of about 20 birds that rose from a dead tree about 35 ft above the ground. The airplane pitched up and turned left, consistent with the pilot attempting an evasive maneuver to avoid the birds. The airplane collided with a tree and residence.

The pilot succumbed to his injuries and could not be interviewed. No bird DNA or feather fragments were detected in samples taken from the airplane. Although no physical evidence of a bird strike was identified, witness observations indicated that the pilot maneuvered to avoid birds that had risen into the airplane’s flight path. Witnesses observed the airplane flying at a low altitude as it approached the airport. The pilot likely did not have sufficient altitude to recover from the evasive maneuver before the airplane collided with a tree.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR24LA305 for the full record.