19950902027769A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Mooney M20C · Ironwood, MI · September 2, 1995

Date: September 2, 1995 · 14:05 local
Place: Ironwood, MI
Airport: Gogebic County
Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N7171U
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI95LA312
Reported as: Mooney M20C
Reported engine: Lycoming O360A1D
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 321 total31 in this make and model215 in the last 90 days

N7171URegistration cancelled Sep 26, 2016 · Mooney M20CS/N 2753 · Built 1964 Airframe modelMooney M20C Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Johnson bar blocked by book on floor during retraction on takeoff. Failed note dive to runway. Impacted same. (-23) shortly after take off pilot tried to retract gear (with manual lever) and found that pax. Had placed a chart on floor preventing handle from locking. Pilot released handle to move chart and when he looked forward again aircraft was diving towards runway. Pilot was unable to fully recover and aircraft struck runway.

As the FAA filed it

JOHNSON BAR BLOCKED BY BOOK ON FLOOR DURING RETRACTION ON TAKEOFF. FAILED NOTE DIVE TO RUNWAY. IMPACTED SAME. (-23) SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF PILOT TRIED TO RETRACT GEAR (WITH MANUAL LEVER) AND FOUND THAT PAX. HAD PLACED A CHART ON FLOOR PREVENTING HANDLE FROM LOCKING. PILOT RELEASED HANDLE TO MOVE CHART AND WHEN HE LOOKED FORWARD AGAIN AIRCRAFT WAS DIVING TOWARDS RUNWAY. PILOT WAS UNABLE TO FULLY RECOVER AND AIRCRAFT STRUCK RUNWAY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI95LA312Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportIronwood, MIthe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to his diverted attention.Sep 2, 1995 · Substantial damage