# NTSB CEN16CA383: Mooney M20D, N6919U, Brodhead, WI, September 11, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 11, 2016, 10:38 local (15:38 UTC) - Place: Brodhead, WI - Coordinates: 42.591667, -89.375 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5917&lon=-89.3750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 94084 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16CA383 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94084/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94084 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16CA383 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of airplane control during initial climb due to an excessively nose-high attitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to properly set the elevator trim before takeoff in accordance with the Before Takeoff checklist. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870210), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=5870210), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=5870210), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=5870210), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5870210), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot arrived to a turf strip to attend a fly-in event on the day of the accident. During departure, the pilot stated he applied full aft yoke during the takeoff roll and lifted off with a nose high attitude. Soon after takeoff, the airplane banked left and descended into a cornfield, which damaged the firewall. The pilot attributed his nose high attitude immediately after takeoff to an improper nose up trim setting, as he had not set the airplane's elevator trim to the takeoff position in accordance with the before takeoff checklist. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The private pilot arrived at a turf strip to attend a fly-in event on the day of the accident. During departure, the pilot stated he applied full aft yoke during the takeoff roll and lifted off with a nose high attitude. Soon after takeoff, the airplane banked left and descended into a cornfield, which damaged the firewall. The pilot attributed his nose high attitude immediately after takeoff to an improper nose up trim setting, as he had not set the airplane's elevator trim to the takeoff position in accordance with the before takeoff checklist. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6919U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6919U-2018-09-13), registration cancelled 2018-09-13, S/N 251, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20D (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Mooney M20D](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20d) (registry code 5870210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 251 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 2434 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2016, 51 hours before - Departed: C37, Brodhead, WI - Destination: 51M, Mio, MI - Airport: C37, Brodhead, runway 27, 2,430 × 155 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2016; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 639 total, 639 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KEFT, 10 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 20160911018339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160911018339A), Sep 11, 2016: Mooney M20D, Brodhead, WI, Substantial damage. At 0438Z on 9/11/2016 the mishap aircraft attempted to depart runway 21 at the Brodhead airport (C37) on a VFR flight to the oscoda county airport (51M).… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 15, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94084. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446397&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Correspondence with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446398&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20Pilot-Master.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.