CHI95LA058

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20K · Minneapolis, MN · December 28, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
December 28, 1994, 15:17 local (21:17 UTC)
Place
Minneapolis, MN
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N3983HMooney M20K
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 19, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19941228043019A
Case key
9813

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 misjudging of distance and airspeed during the approach to landing which resulted in an overrun. Factors associated with the accident were the separation of the exhaust pipe and the pilot's not understanding communications from the air traffic control tower.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malfTakeoff - initial climb
Exhaust system,manifold/pipe - separationFactor
Precautionary landing - performedPilot in command
OverrunLanding - roll
Communications - not understoodPilot in commandFactor
Distance/speed - misjudgedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - fence

Analysis

The pilot stated that after takeoff at an altitude of 200 feet AGL, the engine began running rough and lost power. He declared an emergency and was initially cleared to land on runway 23R followed by a clearance to land on any runway. He stated he did not initially understand that he was cleared for any runway so he set up to land on runway 23R. He stated he was too close to the runway but he continued the landing. The airplane traveled off the end of the runway and came to a stop after contacting an airport perimeter fence. A post accident test run of the engine revealed it produced power to 2700 RPM. The only anomaly found was a separation of the #6 cylinder exhaust pipe near its engine mounting flange.

Factual narrative

On December 28, 1994, about 1517 central standard time, a Mooney M20K, N3983H, sustained substantial damage in a precautionary landing at the Crystal Airport, Minneapolis, Minnesota, when it departed the end of runway 23R, and struck the airport perimeter fence. Neither the commercial pilot, nor the single passenger aboard the airplane were injured. The flight had just departed the Crystal Airport with an intended destination of Rockford, Illinois. An IFR flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

The pilot stated that at an altitude of approximately 200 feet agl, after takeoff, the engine started running rough and an "significant loss of power" occurred. The pilot declared and emergency and was cleared to land on runway 23R. The pilot was later cleared to land on any runway. The pilot stated he, "Did not fully realize all runway[s] were available." He set up for a landing on runway 23R. He stated he was not set up properly, being too close, but decided to land anyway. The airplane touched down long on the runway, traveled off the end and contacted an airport perimeter fence.

A post accident engine test run was conducted. The engine ran up to 2700 rpm without interruption. The only anomaly noted on the was that the #6 cylinder exhaust pipe had separated near the mounting flange.

Aircraft

Registration
N3983H
Reported as
Mooney M20K
Category
Airplane
Serial number
25-0387
Airframe hours
1,741
Engine
Continental TSIO-360-MB, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Werner J. Lindgren
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 3, 1995 · 84 hours before
Departed
MIC
Destination
RFD · Rockford, IL
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
MIC · Crystal, runway 23R, 3,264 × 75 ft, asphalt

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
56
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,479 total · 403 in this make and model · 2,400 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
330° at 5 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
34 °F, dew point 21 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
MIC

FAA reports on this event · 1

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

Other investigations on N3983H · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.