The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently released the findings of the plane crash that killed a pilot on Nov. 21, 2023.
According to the NTSB, the Mooney M20C, N1204X took off from Eagle Roost Airpark in Aguila, Arizona, to travel to Plano. The pilot, identified as Elzie M. McDonald was in North Texas to visit family and friends. McDonald was just days away from celebrating his 88th birthday.
Numerous witnesses reported that the plane initially attempted to land on runway 34 at Air Park – Dallas but subsequently executed a go-around. During the go-around, onlookers observed the left wing of the airplane dipping perpendicular to the ground, leading to a near-vertical descent. Surveillance cameras also captured the incident, including the attempted landing, go-around, climb, wing dip and descent towards the terrain.
The aircraft crashed into a shopping center parking lot approximately 0.25 miles west of the departure end of the runway. Following the impact, a fire erupted and extended to an unoccupied vehicle, resulting in the destruction of the airplane.
"The fire was extinguished last night and the FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash," Plano Fire-Rescue Public Information Officer Daniel Daly told Local Profile at the time. "The only info we have to share is that the plane didn’t crash onto or into anything upon impact, however, it did come to a stop very near an unoccupied parked car which was involved in the resultant fire."
The primary wreckage ended up upside down, with the engine separating from the fuselage and becoming embedded about 2 feet into the ground just north of the main wreckage. Both wings remained attached to the fuselage, showing leading-edge accordion crush damage indicative of a nose-low impact. At the accident site, black rubber transfer and broken pavement, consistent with the landing gear being extended, were found on the pavement.
The authorities recovered the airplane and transferred it to a secure facility for further examination.