- Date
- September 2, 1995, 13:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place
- Ironwood, MI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7171UMooney M20C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 30, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950902027769A
- Case key
- 10023
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to his diverted attention.
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.
Analysis
The pilot stated that immediately after liftoff the passenger asked him if he wanted the map. The pilot told the passenger that he would need it, but not right now. The passenger then placed the map between the seats for the pilot's future use. The pilot reported that as he tried to retract and lock the landing gear with the gear handle, he noticed that the handle would not lock down into place because the map was in the way. The pilot stated he released the handle, threw the map in the back seat, and reached for the handle again. In the meantime, the landing gear had lowered, the airplane pitched down and impacted the runway. The pilot's recommendation as to how the accident could have been prevented was: 'By not taking my eyes off [the] runway.'
Factual narrative
On September 2, 1995, at 1305 eastern standard time (est), a Mooney M20C, N7171U, operated by a private pilot sustained substantial damage during takeoff from runway 27 (6,501' x 150' dry/asphalt), at Gogebic City Airport, Ironwood, Michigan. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight was on departure at the time of the accident, intended destination was Paragould, Arkansas.
The pilot reported he taxied the airplane to the end of runway 27 and performed an engine run-up. He stated that at this time there was nothing between his seat and the passenger's seat. The pilot began the takeoff roll and lifted off. He stated that immediately after takeoff, the passenger asked him if he wanted the map. The pilot told the passenger that he would need it, but not right now. The passenger then placed the map between the seats for the pilot's future use. The pilot reported that as he tried to retract and lock the landing gear with the gear handle, he noticed the handle would not lock down into place because the map was in the way. The pilot released the handle, threw the map in the back seat, and reached for the handle again. In the meantime, the landing gear had lowered, the airplane pitched down and impacted the runway.
The pilot's recommendation as to how the accident could have been prevented was: "By not taking my eyes off [the] runway."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7171U
- Reported as
- Mooney M20C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2753
- Airframe hours
- 4,114
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1D, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Geesey, James D.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 6, 1995 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- IWD
- Destination
- PGR · Paragould, AR
- Airport
- IWD · Gogebic County, runway 27, 6,500 × 150 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
- 36
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 370 total · 41 in this make and model · 300 as pilot in command · 215 in the last 90 days · 56 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IWD
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.