# Accident 19980725017749A: Mooney M20J, Alexander City, AL, July 25, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 25, 1998, 15:30 local time
- Place: Alexander City, AL
- Airport: Thomas C Russell Fld Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.9192° N, 85.9294° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9192&lon=-85.9294&mi=10
- Aircraft: N91381, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91381-2013-08-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Reported engine: LYC IO360A3B6
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA207) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980725017749A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT ON LANDING AND COULD NOT CORRECT RUDDER, PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER TO TAKEOFF, ACFT EXITED RWY TO RIGHT. ACFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. (.4) ON JULY 25, 1998, ABOUT 1530 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A MOONEY M-20J, N91381, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, OPERATING AS A 14 CFR PART 91 INSTRUCITONAL FLIGHT, CRASHED INTO BRUSH AND TREES ADJACENT TO RUNWAY 18 AT THOMAS C. RUSSELL FIELD, ALEXANDER CITY, ALABAMA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED ABOUT 38 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED HIS LANDING LOOKED NORMAL UNTIL THE ACTUAL TOUCHDOWN, WHEN THE AIRPLANE, "PULLED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT." THE ENSUING SKID CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO LEAVE THE RUNWAY, OFF THE RIGHT EDGE INTO THE GRASS, AND THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH PERIPHERAL BRUSH AND SMALL TREES. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ABOUT 170 DEGREES OFF RUNWAY HEADING, IN THE BRUSH, WITH SUBSTANTIAL SKIN DAMAGE, AND RIGHT WING SPAR DAMAGE. WINDS REPORTED BY THE NEAREST WEATHER REPORTING FACILITY, MONTGOMERY AFSS,     REPORTED THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE AS VARIABLE AT 3 KNOTS. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEMS BY AN A&P MECHANIC REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES. (-23) PILOT STATED THAT ON HIS SECOND APPROACH HE LANDED LONG. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS VEERING OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE. HE TRIED TO CONTROL AIRCRAFT AND ADDED POWER FOR A GO AROUND, AIRCRAFT THEN HIT TREES ON RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY. RIGHT OUTER WING TOOK MAJOR IMPACT SWINGING ARICRAFT AROUND AND INTO HEAVY BRUSH AND TREES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA98LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA207), Jul 25, 1998: Mooney M-20J (N91381), Alexander City, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing rollout and attempted go-around, resulting in departure from the runway and collision with adjacent brush and trees.

## Other reports on N91381 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20040728018989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040728018989A), Jul 28, 2004: Mooney M20J (N91381), Fox Lake, IL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) Mr. Stephen cole, a private pilot, purchased the aircraft 10 days prior to the accident. Mr. Cole and certified flight instructor (CFI) johnathon wiens…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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