CEN12CA465

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20J · Oshkosh, WI · July 21, 2012

Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 21, 2012, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC)
Place
Oshkosh, WI
Injuries
1 serious, 1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N339PBMooney M20J
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 9, 2012
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA-MKE-FSDO
FAA report
20120721016149A
Case key
84402

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 excessive airspeed at touchdown and his loss of control of the airplane during the landing roll.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotMooney M20J: 36 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: airspeedAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedMooney M20J: 10 casesAll aircraft: 1,681 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedMooney M20J: 7 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot stated that, during landing, he was concentrating on touching down at a particular location, and he forced the airplane onto the runway at an airspeed that was too fast. The airplane bounced two or three times and traveled off the right side of the runway/taxiway into the grass where it contacted a taxiway light. The pilot stated that the brakes were ineffective due to the speed and the grass. The airplane continued across a service road where it contacted six heavy military vehicles that were among a row of parked vehicles. Both wings and the firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane.

Factual narrative

The airplane was arriving at EAA AirVenture when the accident occurred. During AirVenture, the 6,300 foot long taxiway that parallels the right side of runway 36 is designated as runway 36R and is used for takeoffs and landings as determined by the control tower. In addition, there are four colored dots placed on runway 36L and pilots are issued landing instructions in reference to the dots. The pilot reported he was cleared to land on runway 36R, abeam the “yellow dot” which was on runway 36L. The yellow dot was located 2,900 feet from the runway threshold. The pilot stated he was concentrating on touching down at the yellow dot and he forced the airplane onto the runway at too fast of an airspeed. The airplane bounced two or three times and traveled off the right side of the runway/taxiway into the grass where it contacted a taxiway light. The pilot stated the brakes were ineffective due to the speed and the grass. The airplane continued across a service road where it contacted six heavy military vehicles that were among a row of parked vehicles. Both wings and the firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot stated there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N339PB
Reported as
Mooney M20J
Category
Airplane
Serial number
24-1221
Airframe hours
5,026
Engine
Lycoming IO-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
John C. Bartholomew
Registered owner
Bartholomew Patricia
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 10, 2012
Departed
MSN · Madison, WI
Destination
OSH · Oshkosh, WI
Airport
OSH · Wittman Airport, runway 36R, 6,300 × 50 ft, concrete

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
73
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 15, 2011
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,886 total · 2,700 in this make and model · 2,867 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
260° at 8 knots, gusting 14
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 63 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
OSH

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.4 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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