# NTSB CEN22LA132: Mooney M20C, N6750U, Crete, NE, February 20, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 20, 2022, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Crete, NE
- Coordinates: 40.610163, -96.924927 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6102&lon=-96.9249&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104688
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA132
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104688/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104688
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA132

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff.

## 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 M20C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=5870208), [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 M20C, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During the takeoff roll, the pilot felt the airplane veer left, so he applied backpressure to the control yoke. The pilot reported that the airplane became airborne, settled back to the runway, became airborne again, then veered to the left and settled into a bean field off the side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. An airport surveillance video of the accident showed that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane’s nose rotated for takeoff and the airplane did not appear to gain any altitude as it continued down the runway. Still in a nose-high attitude, the airplane lifted off and then began to drift to the left before it settled back to the ground into the bean field. A visual examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot commanding the airplane to rotate before rotation speed, resulting in a loss of control.

## Factual narrative

On February 20, 2022, about 1530 central daylight time, a Mooney M20C airplane, N6750U, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Crete, Nebraska. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated under the provision of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot stated that the airplane’s preflight was normal and, as he started the takeoff roll, he perceived that the airplane made a “hard left turn” before the airplane rotated for takeoff. The pilot added backpressure to the control yoke and the airplane became airborne in a “nose high attitude.” He stated that the airplane lifted off for a short duration, stalled, and settled back to the runway, dragging the tail. The airplane became airborne again and veered to the left before stalling once again. The airplane then touched down off the runway in a bean field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. A video provided by the airport recorded the takeoff and showed that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane’s nose rotated for takeoff and the airplane did not appear the gain any altitude as it continued down the runway. Still in a nose-high attitude, the airplane lifted off and then began to drift to the left before it settled back to the ground into the bean field. During the accident sequence, the airport’s windsock displayed a slight left crosswind. The pilot reported that there may have been some landing gear wear points or a problem with the nose gear alignment that contributed to the accident; however, postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6750U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6750U), registered now, S/N 2472, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (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: 2472
- Year built: 1963
- Airframe hours: 2728.3
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James C Fischer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 2022, 2.2 hours before
- Destination: KFNB, Falls City, NE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: KCEK, Crete Municipal, runway 17, 4,201 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 121 total, 48 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observed at: KLNK, 15 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 20220220002389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220220002389A), Feb 20, 2022: Mooney M20C, Crete, NE, Substantial damage. The aircraft started takeoff roll on runway 17 at 1545. Video evidence showed the aircraft began to rotate approximately 50 ft. passed the PAPI lights. The…

## Other investigations on N6750U (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI72FEE73](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72FEE73), Apr 13, 1972: Mooney M-20C (N6750U), Northbrook, IL, substantial damage

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104688. 363 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13415005&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN22LA132%20NTSB%20FORM%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's amended statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15238437&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2022-03-07%20Pilot%27s%20Amended%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 299 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15995313&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20CEN22LA132-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation FAA (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15994930&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA-Rel.pdf
- Video 1 (item 5, MOV, 82.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16266834&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_0109-Rel.MOV
- Video 2 (item 6, MOV, 277 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16266889&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_0115-Rel.MOV

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.

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