- Date
- April 28, 2008, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Erie, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N79833Mooney M20E
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20080428842679A
- Case key
- 67965
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 failed to maintain directional control of the airplane during the touch and go landing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The solo student pilot was applying power during a practice soft field touch and go landing when the aircraft veered to the left, departed the paved surface of the runway and struck an airfield sign. The weather was clear with winds 230 degrees at 4 knots. Examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the right aileron. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The solo student pilot was applying power during a practice soft field touch and go landing when the aircraft veered to the left, departed the paved surface of the runway and struck an airfield sign. The student pilot stated he had accomplished three soft field practice takeoff and landings in the accident airplane the day of the accident (15 to 20 total), prior to being cleared by his flight instructor to perform the maneuver solo. The student pilot stated he was uncomfortable performing the maneuver due to the airplane's high engine power and tendency to pull hard to the left during the maneuver. The weather was clear with winds 230 degrees at 4 knots. Examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the right aileron. The student pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N79833
- Reported as
- Mooney M20E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 497
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Facey Enterprises, Inc, doing business as Facey Enterprises, Inc
- Registered owner
- Facey Enterprises, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- KLMO · Longmont, CO
- Destination
- KEIK · Erie, CO
- Airport
- KEIK · Erie Municipal, runway 33
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
- Student pilot
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 107 total · 49 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 140 °F
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 N79833 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.