N7786MMooney M20F · 1974

On August 13, 2014, about 0730 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20F airplane, N7786M, collided with terrain during a go-around at the Rimrock Airport (48AZ), Rimrock, Arizona. The private pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The flight departed Show Low Regional Airport (KSOW), Show Low, Arizona, about 0630 and was destined for Apple Valley, California.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that he received several weather briefings, but the weather was not improving as anticipated. The visibility was above visual flight rule (VFR) minimums, and the ceiling was greater than 2,000 ft above ground level, but he wanted to land, and get an updated weather briefing.

He decided to land at the nearest airport, which was the Rimrock Airport. He said he had not landed there previously, and did not know the runway was sloped downhill. It had rained earlier, the runway was wet, and when he applied the brakes the airplane started to skid. He decided to go-around but did not get the flaps up before the airplane travelled off the end of the runway and impacted terrain.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.