N6253U

On July 3, 1999, approximately 1330 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N6253U, owned and operated by Advantage Aviation, Inc., Wheat Ridge, Colorado, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing touchdown at Big Piney-Marbleton Airport, Big Piney, Wyoming. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The aircraft was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the personal cross-country flight en route to Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated from Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado, at 1030.

According to the pilot, while en route to Jackson Hole, he decided to land at Big Piney to refuel. Just prior to touching down on runway 13, a "strong crosswind gust" caused the left wing to impact the runway. The nose went forward and the propeller also struck the runway. The aircraft then departed the runway onto an open dirt field. The pilot was able to slow the airplane down, steer it back onto the runway, and taxi to the ramp under the aircraft's own power.

At 1253, approximately 37 minutes prior to the accident, winds reported at the Big Piney airport were from 240 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 28 knots. According to the pilot, the winds at the time he landed were from 220 degrees at 17 knots. The crosswind component at the time the aircraft landed was 17 knots. According to Mooney Airplane Flight Test, the 1962 Mooney M20C Aircraft Flight Manual does not provide maximum demonstrated crosswind component information because it was not required for FAA certification.