- Date
- June 19, 2007, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Van, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N115RCMooney M-20E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Dallas, Texas
- FAA report
- 20070619014119A
- Case key
- 66002
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 directional control during the takeoff run.
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 1,010-hour commercial pilot lost control of the single-engine airplane while attempting to perform a short/soft field takeoff from a 2,000-foot grass airstrip that was oriented in a southwesterly direction. The pilot, who reported having accumulated a total of 184 hours in the same make and model, reported that right after liftoff from Runway 22, the airplane started to bank to the left. The pilot responded with a full right aileron application to slow the roll to no avail. An eye-witness at the airport reported observing the airplane "jump" off the ground after the nose of the airplane attained a pronounced nose-high attitude during rotation. The airplane struck the ground left wing first followed by the propeller and then the left side of the engine cowling. The pilot reported that he had gone to the airport to pick-up the airplane after airframe maintenance had been completed. The airplane had undergone repairs to the ailerons, flaps, rudder. flight instruments and avionics. The pilot that test flew the airplane prior to the release reported flying the airplane on 3 separate flights to make rigging adjustments. He added that all flight characteristics were normal. The FAA inspectors that responded to the accident site were able to establish flight control continuity. Additionally, they reported that based on the photos taken at the accident site, the elevator trim was in full-up position at the time of the accident. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses. The position of the wing flaps was not determined.
Factual narrative
The 1,010-hour commercial pilot lost control of the single-engine airplane while attempting to perform a short/soft field takeoff from a 2,000-foot grass airstrip that was oriented in a southwesterly direction. The pilot, who reported having accumulated a total of 184 hours in the same make and model, reported that right after liftoff from Runway 22, the airplane started to bank to the left. The pilot responded with a full right aileron application to slow the roll to no avail. An eye-witness at the airport reported observing the airplane "jump" off the ground after the nose of the airplane attained a pronounced nose-high attitude during rotation. The airplane struck the ground left wing first followed by the propeller and then the left side of the engine cowling. The pilot reported that he had gone to the airport to pick-up the airplane after airframe maintenance had been completed. The airplane had undergone repairs to the ailerons, flaps, rudder. flight instruments and avionics. The pilot that test flew the airplane prior to the release reported flying the airplane on 3 separate flights to make rigging adjustments. He added that all flight characteristics were normal. The FAA inspectors that responded to the accident site were able to establish flight control continuity. Additionally, they reported that based on the photos taken at the accident site, the elevator trim was in full-up position at the time of the accident. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses. The position of the wing flaps was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N115RC
- Reported as
- Mooney M-20E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 627
- Engine
- Lycoming IO 360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- C-NET Technologies
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2006
- Departed
- 5XS5 · Van, TX
- Destination
- 5XS5
- Airport
- 5XS5 · Brady Field Airport, runway 22, 2,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf
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
- 23
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,010 total · 184 in this make and model · 171 in the last 90 days · 67 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.