ATL07CA048

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20J · Toccoa, GA · March 7, 2007

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
March 7, 2007, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
Toccoa, GA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N4WYMooney M20J
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 29, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
College Park FSDO-11
FAA report
20070307003349A
Case key
65400

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 maintain airspeed during a go-around resulting in an inadvertenent stall and collision with the ground.

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.

Loss of control - in flightGo-around (vfr)
Weather condition - crosswind
Go-around - performedPilot in command
Weather condition - gusts
Gear retraction - not performedPilot in command
Raising of flaps - not performedPilot in command
Stall - inadvertentPilot in command
Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The aircraft stalled during a go-around and struck the ground in uncontrolled flight. A witness (fixed base operator and airframe and power plant mechanic) who observed the accident stated the winds were favoring runway 27, and were gusting at about 35 knots at the time of the accident. The witness observed the airplane turn base, final, and touch down in the first one-third of the runway. The airplane was observed to veer to the right and the pilot appeared to make a correction. The airplane continued to veer to the right towards a parked airplane. An increase in engine power was heard and the airplane became airborne. The airplane climbed to about 20 to 30 feet above the runway and veered to the left at a very slow airspeed. The airplane was observed to turn back to the right, and the right wing dropped down as if the airplane encountered a stall. The airplane crossed over two other parked airplanes and the right wing tip collided with the ground about 75 feet behind the parked airplanes. The airplane was observed to bounce, and the nose of the airplane obtained a nose high attitude before the tail of the airplane collided with the ground. The nose of the airplane pitched down, and the airplane skidded about 120 feet before it came to a stop. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed the landing gear was extended and the flaps were in the full down position. The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) states that an airplane with a gross weight of 2,740 pounds will stall at 54 KIAS with the gear and flaps extended with 0-degrees angle of bank, The airplane will stall at 59 KIAS with a 30-degree angle of bank.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated he completed the before landing checklist and turned base and final. The landing gear was extended and the flaps were extended to the full down position. The airplane touched down on the first one-third of the runway and was hit by a gust of wind. The airplane veered to the right, and the pilot applied left rudder. The airplane continued to veer to the right. The pilot was concerned about colliding with an airplane that was parked on the ramp and initiated a go-around. The airplane became airborne and turned to the right with the landing gear and flaps extended. The right wing dropped down, the right wing tip collided with the ground, followed by the left main landing gear, and the airplane skidded to a stop.

A mechanic, who is also the fixed base operator at the airport stated the winds were favoring runway 27, and were gusting at about 35 knots. at the time of the accident. The mechanic observed the airplane turn base, final, and touch down in the first one-third of the runway. The airplane was observed to veer to the right and the pilot appeared to make a correction. The airplane continued to veer to the right towards a parked airplane. An increase in engine power was heard and the airplane became airborne. The airplane climbed to about 20 to 30 feet above the runway and veered to the left at a very slow airspeed. The airplane was observed to turn back to the right, and the right wing dropped down as if the airplane encountered a stall. The airplane crossed over two other parked airplanes and the right wing tip collided with the ground about 75 feet behind the parked airplanes. The airplane bounced, the nose of the airplane was observed in a nose high attitude and the tail of the airplane collided with the ground. The nose of the airplane pitched down, and the airplane skidded about 120 feet before it came to a stop.

Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed the landing gear was extended and the flaps were in the full down position. The right wing was bent up and the aft fuselage was buckled.

Review of the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) for the Mooney M20J states in Section IV, Normal Procedures, GO AROUND (BALKED LANDING)...."3. Flaps- AFTER CLIMB ESTABLISHED RETRACT TO 0 DEGREES WHILE ACCELERATING TO 73 KIAS."

In addition the POH states in SECTION V, PERFORMANCE, at a gross weight of 2,740 pounds, with the gear and flaps extended with a 0-degree angle of bank, the airplane will stall at 54 KIAS. With a 30-degree angle of bank, the airplane will stall at 59 KIAS.

Aircraft

Registration
N4WY
Reported as
Mooney M20J
Category
Airplane
Serial number
24-1352
Airframe hours
2,390
Engine
Lycoming IO360-A3B60, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
RPR Flight LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · October 1, 2006 · 9.9 hours before
Departed
KAND · Anderson, SC
Destination
KTOC · Toccoa, GA
Airport
KTOC · Toccoa RG Letourneau Field, runway 27, 2,951 × 50 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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
59
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 1, 2006
Seat
Left
Flight hours
621 total · 201 in this make and model · 515 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 17 knots, gusting 35
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
66 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
30.13 inHg
Observed at
KAND, 30 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.