# NTSB ATL05CA030: Mooney M20J, N2201, Statesville, NC, November 27, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 27, 2004, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Statesville, NC - Coordinates: 35.764999, -80.956665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7650&lon=-80.9567&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Charlotte FSDO-33 - NTSB case key (mKey): 60629 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60629/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA030 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) - stall - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2201), registered now, S/N 24-1389, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1389 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 32; injuries: none; 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 - Pilot; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20041127034289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041127034289A), Nov 27, 2004: Mooney M20J, Statesville, NC, Destroyed. (-23) Student was performing a short field take off and did not rotate enough on departure. Flight instructor grabbed the controls to increase the aircraft… 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.