M20J Forced Landing near KSPZ

[Aaviationist]

1 hour ago, EricJ said:

You are incorrect.

The copilot was also seriously injured and there were delays in extracting him due to the damage to the cockpit area.   The cockpit was not "mostly still intact" as can be seen here.

I’m not incorrect. None of the injuries sustained were due to the “collapsing of the cockpit”. 
 

despite what you may want to infer from you limited availability of the images on google, the actual “intrusion “ Into the cockpit was not a major factor for the fatality. 
 

a head bouncing off the wall and panel was. 

[Pinecone]

On 12/19/2025 at 9:10 PM, kortopates said:

The steel cage is what keeps the cockpit from crushing but not what keeps you safe. It’s your seat belts with shoulder harness that prevents your body from slamming into the panel and glareshield and causing fatal blunt force trauma.

And many people are flying without shoulder harnesses or with 30+ year old webbing.  Both can lead to serious injuries or fatalities.

In my race car, the belts have to be changed ever 5 years.

[DCarlton]

We’re debating the strength of various fuselage cabin designs by comparing a few random memorable accidents?  Hum.  Wouldn’t it be interesting to see the engineering data package Mooney used to certify the additional pilots side door or the sliding canopy?  Guessing that’s the best last time the structure was analyzed or tested with modern tools.  

[DCarlton]

On 12/20/2025 at 8:08 AM, Aaviationist said:

personally I’d be more worried about climbing over seats in a cramped cabin trying to get out of the single passenger side door than the “cockpit collapsing on me”

 

 

That’s why I have it burned into my brain to open the door and close the latch pin with the door open before impact.  Is this consistent with everyone’s training?  I also have a cushion to put between the passenger and the yoke with the hope that it might help.  

[Hank]

4 minutes ago, DCarlton said:

That’s why I have it burned into my brain to open the door and close the latch pin with the door open before impact.  Is this consistent with everyone’s training?  I also have a cushion to put between the passenger and the yoke with the hope that it might help.  

My pax and I both sit on cushions for improved forward visibility. It really helped my landings during transition training, too.

[Aaviationist]

Seems pretty un-crushed to me

[Hank]

Looks pretty crushed to me. This was a 182.

See how easy it is to cherry pick stuff?

[DCarlton]

I'm thinking you guys should start a thread and take on healthcare or affordability.  

[Aaviationist]

6 hours ago, Hank said:

Looks pretty crushed to me. This was a 182.

See how easy it is to cherry pick stuff?

You’re saying a Mooney “cage will support flying into the side of a mountain?

 

it won’t. 

[Aaviationist]

And just for good measure. 
 

that cage doesn’t do what you think it does. 

[bonal]

Based on the two images above I would say just the opposite of your conclusion.  It is quite apparent that there is no deformation of the cabin above where the rear seats are located.  It also looks like the cabin was cut away most likely by rotary saws used by fire and rescue crews.  Also in one of the images you can see what looks like the center post at the front of the cabin area and it looks like it’s still in alignment with the roof line.  In fact I would suggest that the baggage door that is showing would probably open normally.

since both images show the top completely removed the images are inconclusive 

 

[Andy95W]

5 hours ago, bonal said:

Based on the two images above I would say just the opposite of your conclusion.  It is quite apparent that there is no deformation of the cabin above where the rear seats are located.  It also looks like the cabin was cut away most likely by rotary saws used by fire and rescue crews.  Also in one of the images you can see what looks like the center post at the front of the cabin area and it looks like it’s still in alignment with the roof line.  In fact I would suggest that the baggage door that is showing would probably open normally.

since both images show the top completely removed the images are inconclusive 

 

I agree, and I also agree those pictures aren’t as conclusive as aaviationist thinks they are.

[DCarlton]

https://glasairaviation.com/a-system-of-safety/
 

interesting comments about the superior safety cage … 

[Echo]

On 12/28/2025 at 4:14 PM, bonal said:

Based on the two images above I would say just the opposite of your conclusion.  It is quite apparent that there is no deformation of the cabin above where the rear seats are located.  It also looks like the cabin was cut away most likely by rotary saws used by fire and rescue crews.  Also in one of the images you can see what looks like the center post at the front of the cabin area and it looks like it’s still in alignment with the roof line.  In fact I would suggest that the baggage door that is showing would probably open normally.

since both images show the top completely removed the images are inconclusive 

 

Don't feed the troll.  Juice definitely NOT worth the squeeze.

[cliffy]

Is it just me or are we looking at pictures AFTER the rescue squad has cut the cockpit open to extract the occupants?

[Hank]

4 hours ago, cliffy said:

Is it just me or are we looking at pictures AFTER the rescue squad has cut the cockpit open to extract the occupants?

Looks like that to me.

[bonal]

On 1/1/2026 at 3:56 PM, Echo said:

Don't feed the troll.  Juice definitely NOT worth the squeeze.

Ahh,  trolls don’t bother me much matter of fact the Little Timmy was some of the funniest shit ever.

[bonal]

5 hours ago, cliffy said:

Is it just me or are we looking at pictures AFTER the rescue squad has cut the cockpit open to extract the occupants?

Agreed see my post above, remaining cabin looks pretty much like original shape 

[Hank]

36 minutes ago, bonal said:

Ahh,  trolls don’t bother me much matter of fact the Little Timmy was some of the funniest shit ever.

Except it drug on and on and on and on . . . .

[47U]

I hesitate to comment on Little Timmy, but my takeaway from that thread is there can be quality after controversy.

That’s what I’m hoping for.  Growth, including in my own contributions. 

[Echo]

22 hours ago, Hank said:

Except it drug on and on and on and on . . . .

Uh Oh, PTTD.  (Post traumatic Timmy Disorder).  

[Hank]

49 minutes ago, Echo said:

Uh Oh, PTTD.  (Post traumatic Timmy Disorder).  

No, I pulled the ripcord around Page 25. The best I can remember, it went well over 100 pages . . . .

[Hank]

Does anyone remember much about this accident? Or has it all washed away in the haggling about superior non-use of approach plates?

I need to go back to the first page for a refresher . . . .

[kortopates]

The prelim is out
Both on board were seriously injured.
The pilot had flown this route multiple times and often used this airport as an intermediate stop. The AWOS was out of service at the time of landing and pilot didn’t see a wind sock so chose rwy 6. Nearest reporting weather was Reno 23 nm away reporting 270@23G38.
Pilot report a near midway touch down and starts a go around but found the engine response lacking with everything full forward.
Mixture full forward? Density altitude and winds likely played a role.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Report_CEN26LA063_202172_1_10_2026 12_25_01 PM.pdf

[Hank]

On 1/10/2026 at 12:03 PM, kortopates said:

The prelim is out
Both on board were seriously injured.
The pilot had flown this route multiple times and often used this airport as an intermediate stop. The AWOS was out of service at the time of landing and pilot didn’t see a wind sock so chose rwy 6. Nearest reporting weather was Reno 23 nm away reporting 270@23G38.
Pilot report a near midway touch down and starts a go around but found the engine response lacking with everything full forward.
Mixture full forward? Density altitude and winds likely played a role.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Report_CEN26LA063_202172_1_10_2026 12_25_01 PM.pdf

Weird. This accident was in Nevada at almost 4300 msl, but the linked report is an accident at 15 msl, and records Minor injuries with zero details of what happened, and the Winds field is blank . . .