ATL06CA098

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20M · Burnsville, NC · June 30, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 30, 2006, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
Place
Burnsville, NC
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N2168FMooney M20M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 3, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Columbia FSDO-13
FAA report
20060630013369A
Case key
64025

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 pilot's failure to achieve the proper touch down point on landing resulting in a runway over run and collision with an embankment.

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.

OverrunLanding - roll
Proper touchdown point - not obtainedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - tailwind
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment

Analysis

The pilot stated that he departed from Naples, Florida, with an en route stop in Alma, Georgia, for fuel. Upon arrival in the Burnsville area, the pilot obtained the Asheville, North Carolina, surface winds. The winds were being reported as 340 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot contacted personnel on the ground at Mountain Air Airport over the UNICOM radio frequency and followed another airplane that was in front of his for landing. The pilot made a low pass down the runway and surveyed the landing area even though he had landed at the airport before. Upon completion of the low pass the pilot remained in right closed traffic. The pilot stated that he completed the before landing checklist, lowered the landing gear, extended the flaps and activated the speed brakes. The pilot turned on final approach and extended the flaps to the full down position. When the airplane was over the landing threshold the pilot decreased the throttle. The airplane began to float, touched down on the runway, bounced and porpoised 3 times. The pilot stated that the airplane must have encountered a tailwind. Once the airplane was on the ground on the landing roll out he began applying brakes. The airplane was approaching the end of the runway and the pilot locked the brakes. The airplane began to skid, went off the end of the runway, through the runway overrun, and down an embankment before it came to a complete stop. The pilot and three passengers exited the airplane. The pilot stated he did not encounter any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident.

Factual narrative

On June 30, 2006, at 1645 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20M, N2168F registered to Buy Air LLC, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, went off the end of the runway at Mountain Air Airport, Burnsville, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The private pilot and three passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated from Alma, Georgia, on June 30, 2006, at 1500.

The pilot stated he departed from Naples, Florida, with an enroute stop in Alma, Georgia, for fuel. Upon arrival in the Burnsville area, the pilot obtained the Asheville, North Carolina, surface winds. The winds were being reported as 340-degrees at 6 knots. The pilot contacted personnel on the ground at Mountain Air Airport over the UNICOM radio frequency and followed another airplane that was in front of his for landing. The pilot made a low pass down the runway and surveyed the landing area even though he had landed at the airport before. Upon completion of the low pass the pilot remained in right closed traffic. The pilot stated he completed the before landing checklist, lowered the landing gear, extended the flaps and activated the speed brakes. The pilot turned on final approach and extended the flaps to the full down position. When the airplane was over the landing threshold the pilot decreased the throttle. The airplane began to float, touched down on the runway, bounced and porpoised 3 times. The pilot stated the airplane must have encountered a tailwind. Once the airplane was on the ground on the landing roll out he began applying brakes. The airplane was approaching the end of the runway and the pilot locked the brakes. The airplane began to skid, went off the end of the runway, through the runway overrun, and down an embankment before it came to a complete stop. The pilot and three passengers exited the airplane. The pilot stated he did not encounter any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident.

The nearest weather reporting facility to the accident is Asheville Regional Airport, Asheville, North Carolina, located 27 nautical miles south of Mountain Air Airport. The 1654 surface weather information revealed the winds were 320-degrees at 6 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N2168F
Reported as
Mooney M20M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
27-0261
Airframe hours
390
Engine
Lycoming TIO-540, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Buy Air LLC
Registered owner
Buy Air LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · October 1, 2005 · 35 hours before
Departed
AMG · Alma, GA
Destination
2NCO · Burnsville, NC

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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
46
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 1, 2005
Seat
Left
Flight hours
550 total · 550 in this make and model · 1,050 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
320° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.18 inHg
Observed at
AVL, 27 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.