# NTSB CHI01LA310: Mooney M20K, N252YX, Croswell, MI, September 3, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2001, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Croswell, MI - Coordinates: 43.269908, -82.609031 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2699&lon=-82.6090&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Detroit, Michigan FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53169 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA310 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53169/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA310 ## Probable cause The pilots failure to abort the takeoff. Factors were the pole and the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - object - pole (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane impacted a pole, trees, and terrain after takeoff. The pilot said in a written statement, "I began the takeoff at the extreme end of [runway] 25 (there was a little down hill start). As I applied throttle I didn't notice the turbo charger kick in and wrote it off to the bumpy grass field. Acceleration seemed a little sluggish but again attributed it to the grass field and being close to maximum gross weight (I normally fly out of Detroit City; this was my fourth departure from Arnold Field and my first from runway 25). About 2/3 of the way down the runway I realized that there was a serious performance problem. I rotated at a little over 60 knots and the wheels cleared the grass; I presumed the plane would then perform since I wouldn't have the retarding effect of the grass. Looking up I could see power lines above me and realized that I would not clear them. The plane continued to under perform; I pulled up on the yoke and the stall warning went off. I lowered the nose and looked for a place I might get under the power lines and over the trees. It was clear that that wouldn't happen and I lowered the nose and tried to aim for a thin spot in the tree line. The right wing clipped a phone pole and we crashed through the trees, over the road and came to rest in a freshly plowed field." A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. The airplane's engine was test run on the airframe. The engine ran from idle to a power setting of 34 inches of manifold pressure. Power was not increased beyond 34 inches due to safety concerns during the test. During the test run, the magneto's were checked and the propeller was cycled. No anomalies were noted during the test run. FAA publication "THE SAFE PILOT'S 12 GOLDEN RULES - FAA-P-8740-7" states, "9. TAKEOFF/LANDING LIMITS -- Plan ahead . . . (a) Always plan touchdown 200 feet inside of runway threshold. (b) Abort takeoff if not solidly "airborne" in first 1/2 of runway. (c) Abort landing if not solidly "on" in first 1/3 of runway. (First 1/4 if wet grass.) (d) Never relax control until engine is shut down and wheels are blocked." ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2001, at about 1350 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20K, N252YX, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted a pole, trees, and terrain after takeoff from runway 25 (2,530 feet by 80 feet, turf) at the Arnold Field Airport, Croswell, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. The pilot and 3 passengers reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to the Detroit City Airport, Detroit, Michigan. The pilot said in a written statement, "I began the takeoff at the extreme end of [runway] 25 (there was a little down hill start). As I applied throttle I didn't notice the turbo charger kick in and wrote it off to the bumpy grass field. Acceleration seemed a little sluggish but again attributed it to the grass field and being close to maximum gross weight (I normally fly out of Detroit City; this was my fourth departure from Arnold Field and my first from runway 25). About 2/3 of the way down the runway I realized that there was a serious performance problem. I rotated at a little over 60 knots and the wheels cleared the grass; I presumed the plane would then perform since I wouldn't have the retarding effect of the grass. Looking up I could see power lines above me and realized that I would not clear them. The plane continued to under perform; I pulled up on the yoke and the stall warning went off. I lowered the nose and looked for a place I might get under the power lines and over the trees. It was clear that that wouldn't happen and I lowered the nose and tried to aim for a thin spot in the tree line. The right wing clipped a phone pole and we crashed through the trees, over the road and came to rest in a freshly plowed field." A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. The airplane's engine was test run on the airframe. The engine ran from idle to a power setting of 34 inches of manifold pressure. Power was not increased beyond 34 inches due to safety concerns during the test. During the test run, the magneto's were checked and the propeller was cycled. No anomalies were noted during the test run. FAA publication "THE SAFE PILOT'S 12 GOLDEN RULES - FAA-P-8740-7" states, "9. TAKEOFF/LANDING LIMITS -- Plan ahead . . . (a) Always plan touchdown 200 feet inside of runway threshold. (b) Abort takeoff if not solidly "airborne" in first 1/2 of runway. (c) Abort landing if not solidly "on" in first 1/3 of runway. (First 1/4 if wet grass.) (d) Never relax control until engine is shut down and wheels are blocked." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N252YX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N252YX-2002-01-25), registration cancelled 2002-01-25, S/N 25-1092, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20K - Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 251092 - Airframe hours: 2135 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-NB 305 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Smaug Air - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2001, 1 hours before - Departed: 55G, Croswell, MI - Destination: DET, Detroit, MI - Airport: 55G, Arnold Field, runway 25, 2,530 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 15, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,119 total, 228 in this make and model, 995 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 11 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: PHN, 23 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 20010903032349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010903032349A), Sep 3, 2001: Mooney M20K, Croswell, MI, No damage. (-23) Pilot reported loss of power and aborted takeoff, went into trees shedding left wing and part of right wing. (.19) on September 3, 2001, at about 1350… 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.