ATL05CA030

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20J · Statesville, NC · November 27, 2004

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
November 27, 2004, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC)
Place
Statesville, NC
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Uncontrolled descent
Aircraft
N2201Mooney M20J
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 24, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Charlotte FSDO-33
FAA report
20041127034289A
Case key
60629

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the flight instructors improper use of the flight controls on rotation during a short field takeoff resulting in the airplane becoming airborne, stall, and collision with the ground. A factor in the accident was the instructors failure to brief procedures for a positive transfere of the flight controls with the pilot receiving instruction.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Procedures/directives - not followedPilot in command(cfi)Factor
Flight controls - improper use ofPilot in command(cfi)Cause
Airspeed - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)
Stall
Loss of control - in flightTakeoff
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The flight instructor stated he was conducting an instructional flight with a private pilot who had been having problems with performing the soft field takeoff maneuver. The flight instructor stated he did not brief the private pilot on positive transfer of the flight controls before departing on the flight. The private pilot taxied out to runway 28 and completed the required takeoff checks and taxied into position for takeoff. The private pilot started the takeoff roll. When the airplane reached rotation speed the private pilot did not rotate the airplane. The flight instructor verbally informed the pilot to rotate the airplane. The pilot did not respond to the flight instructors instructions. The flight instructor pulled back on the control yoke and the airplane became airborne in a nose up attitude with both pilots on the on the flight controls. The flight instructor stated, "the airplane stalled and the left wing dropped down." The flight instructor verbally instructed the pilot to release the flight controls and he complied with his instructions. The flight instructor leveled the airplane as it collided with the ground off the left side of the runway. The airplane continued forward and collided with a fence before it came to a stop. When asked if the airplane had any mechanical problems before the accident the flight instructor stated no. He further stated, "the accident was his fault, he failed to exercise good cockpit resource management by not properly transferring the flight controls, resulting in the airspeed not being maintained when he pulled back on the control yoke."

Factual narrative

On November 27, 2004, at 1340 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20J, N2201, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with the ground and a fence during a short field takeoff from Statesville Regional Airport, Statesville, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The commercial pilot flight instructor, and the private pilot receiving instruction reported no injuries. The flight was originating from Statesville regional Airport, on November 27, 2004 at 1339.

The flight instructor stated the private pilot was having problems with rotating the airplane when performing the soft field takeoff maneuver. The private pilot taxied out to runway 28 and completed the required takeoff checks and taxied into position for takeoff. The private pilot started the takeoff roll. When the airplane reached rotation speed the private pilot did not rotate the airplane. The flight instructor verbally informed the pilot to rotate the airplane. The pilot did not respond to the flight instructors instructions. The flight instructor pulled back on the control yoke and the airplane became airborne in a nose up attitude with both pilots on the on the flight controls. The flight instructor stated, "the airplane stalled and the left wing dropped down." The flight instructor verbally instructed the pilot to release the flight controls and he complied with his instructions. The flight instructor leveled the airplane as it collided with the ground off the left side of the runway. The airplane continued forward and collided with a fence before it came to a stop. When asked if the airplane had any mechanical problems before the accident the flight instructor stated no. He further stated, "the accident was his fault, he failed to exercise good cockpit resource management by not properly transferring the flight controls, resulting in the airspeed not being maintained when he pulled back on the control yoke."

Aircraft

Registration
N2201
Reported as
Mooney M20J
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1389
Engine
Lycoming IO-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Christopher W. Hughes
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 10, 2004
Departed
SVH · Statesville, NC
Airport
SVH · Statesville Regional, runway 28, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
32
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2
Last flight review
November 8, 2002
Seat
Right
Flight hours
8,500 total · 140 in this make and model · 6,000 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
50° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
3,500 ft overcast
Temperature
46 °F, dew point 32 °F
Altimeter
30.09 inHg
Observed at
CLT, 33 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.