# NTSB CEN11CA462: Mooney M20S, N2234X, Washington Island, WI, July 3, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 3, 2011, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Washington Island, WI - Coordinates: 45.385555, -86.923614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3856&lon=-86.9236&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 6, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81035 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA462 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81035/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81035 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA462 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing and his delayed remedial action to abort the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=5870226), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870226), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=5870226), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5870226), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mooney M20S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870226), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870226), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot landed the airplane using a short field technique which he had recently practiced with his flight instructor. During the landing roll, the airplane's wheels rolled through some potholes causing the airplane to become airborne again. The pilot attempted to abort the landing by applying full throttle and retracting the flaps to the takeoff position. However, with full throttle and full aft elevator, the airplane would not climb and settled back down onto the ground. The airplane veered to the left and impacted a ditch, which tore off the landing gear, and substantially damaged the empennage and horizontal stabilizer. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. The pilot reported he was late in initiating the aborted landing procedure. ## Factual narrative The pilot landed the airplane using the "short field technique" which he had recently practiced with his instructor. During the landing roll, the airplane's wheels rolled through some potholes causing the airplane to become airborne again. The pilot attempted to abort the landing by applying full throttle and retracting the flaps to the takeoff position. However, with full throttle and full aft elevator, the airplane would not climb and settled back down onto the ground. The airplane veered to the left and went through a small ditch, which tore off the landing gear. The airplane continued to slide along the ground until finally coming rest, adjacent to a road near the airport perimeter edge. A postaccident examination of the airplane showed the empennage was buckled and the horizontal stabilizer was partially separated. There were no mechanical anomalies or issues noted with the airplane. The pilot reported he was late in initiating the aborted landing procedure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2234X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2234X-2014-10-20), registration cancelled 2014-10-20, S/N 30-0001, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20S - Registry model: [Mooney M20S](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20s) (registry code 5870226) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-0001 - Airframe hours: 1818 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: On File - Registered owner: Daniel Folk - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2011 - Departed: C16, Urbana, IL - Destination: 2P2, Washington Island, WI - Airport: 2P2, Washington Island Airport, runway 14, 2,230 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 11, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 2,190 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 2,190 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20110703013119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110703013119A), Jul 3, 2011: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20S, Washington Isla, WI, Substantial damage. Aircraft touched down on threshold of grass runway 14 at wasington Island airport and bounced twice. After second bounce, aircraft initiated a go around,… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81035. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351116&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.