Accident Details
On July 7, 2020, at about 1344 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20TN, Canadian registration C-GTVS, was substantially damaged when it crashed at Central Colorado Regional Airport in Buena Vista, Colorado. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country trip from Canada to California, with a stop in Buena Vista for refueling.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, during takeoff he did not achieve a positive rate of climb. He looked down to adjust the engine mixture and put on an oxygen nose piece. He stated that during the takeoff sequence, he was not attentive to his airspeed and altitude. When he looked up, the right main landing gear struck the terrain hard at an estimated speed of 150 to 160 knots. The pilot attempted to maintain control, and the airplane came to rest on the runway. A postimpact fire occurred, and the pilot sustained serious injuries when exiting the airplane. The airplane received substantial damage from the fire. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Witness Account
A witness located at the airport reported observing the airplane take off from runway 15 with no apparent issues. The airplane then suddenly impacted the runway surface, and a postimpact fire ensued. The witness went to the accident site to assist the pilot. The pilot informed the witness that he "went to get his oxygen nose piece and impacted runway."