# NTSB ATL03LA088: Mooney M20E, N201EZ, Milledgeville, GA, April 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 2003, 19:04 local (23:04 UTC) - Place: Milledgeville, GA - Coordinates: 33.156944, -83.245552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1569&lon=-83.2456&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO-11 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56933 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56933/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA088 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during climbout which resulted in a low altitude stall and subsequent in-flight collision with the terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - encountered, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to return the airplane to the repair station where he had previously gotten an annual inspection completed. The pilot had complained about a landing gear and strut problem during landing and takeoff. Due to the gear and strut problem, the pilot elected to perform a soft field takeoff from runway 10. According to a witness at the airport, the airplane was first heard in the runup area, and next seen climbing out from the runway. The airplane was then seen about 50 feet above the ground, in a nose high attitude, and in a 60-degree left bank. The airplane continued to bank until the left wingtip was in a 90 degree left bank and then it collided with the ground. The aircraft spun across the ground and came to rest in a tree line left of runway 10 at Baldwin County Airport. Examination of the aircraft the after accident revealed that both wings were bent at the spars, and the nose section forward of the fire wall was displaced to the left. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the takeoff and initial climb. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2003 at 1904 eastern daylight time a Mooney M20E, N201EZ, registered to and operated by the private pilot, collided with the ground while attempting a soft field takeoff at Baldwin County Airport, Milledgeville, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed Milledgeville, Georgia, at 1904 on April 29, 2003. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to return the airplane to the repair station where he had previously gotten an annual inspection completed. The pilot had complained about a landing gear and strut problem during landing and takeoff. Due to the gear and strut problem, the pilot elected to perform a soft field takeoff from runway 10. According to a witness at the airport, the airplane was first heard in the runup area, and next seen climbing out from the runway. The airplane was then seen about 50 feet above the ground, in a nose high attitude, and in a 60-degree left bank. The airplane continued to bank until the left wingtip was in a 90 degree left bank collided with the ground. The aircraft spun across the ground and came to rest in a tree line left of runway 10 at Baldwin County Airport. Examination of aircraft after accident revealed that both wings were bent at the spars, and the nose section forward of the fire wall was displaced to the left. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the takeoff and initial climb. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N201EZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201EZ-2005-05-19), registration cancelled 2005-05-19, S/N 671, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20E - Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 671 - Airframe hours: 3131 - Engines: Avco Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas Alan Maxwell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 2003, 2 hours before - Departed: KMLJ, Millageville, GA - Destination: CXU, CAMILLA, GA - Airport: MLJ, Baldwin County, runway 10, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 19, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 389 total, 349 in this make and model, 292 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: MCN ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030429007159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030429007159A), Apr 29, 2003: Mooney M20E, Milledgeville, GA, Destroyed. (-23) Dr. Maxwell stated that N201EZ, a Mooney M-20E, received an annual inspection and new nose and main gear shock discs the previous week. He stated the… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.