# NTSB ERA09CA508: Mooney 231, N75PW, Charlottesville, VA, September 4, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2009, 20:10 local (Sep 4, 2009, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Charlottesville, VA - Coordinates: 38.13861, -78.452774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1386&lon=-78.4528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74684 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA508 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74684/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74684 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA508 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and lack of familiarity with the airport diagram, which resulted in a runway excursion onto a grassy area. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot performed a successful landing during night visual conditions, about 30 minutes after sunset at the destination airport. He taxied off the runway onto a perpendicular taxiway, and was instructed by the ground controller to "taxi to the ramp." The pilot stated that he was "unable to make out any features on the ground," due to the darkness. He observed the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) directly in front of him and proceeded straight ahead, not realizing there was a strip of grass separating the taxiway and the FBO. The airplane exited the taxiway and continued down a grassy slope between the ramp and taxiway. During the excursion from the taxiway, the propeller and the tail of the airplane struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had studied the airport diagram and identified the grassy area. ## Factual narrative "THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED DECEMBER 10, 2009." The pilot performed a successful landing, about 30 minutes after sunset at the destination airport. He taxied off the runway onto a perpendicular taxiway, and was instructed by the ground controller to "taxi to the ramp." The pilot stated he was "unable to make out any features on the ground," due to the darkness. He observed the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) directly in front of him and proceeded straight ahead, not realizing there was a strip of grass separating the taxiway and the FBO. The airplane exited the taxiway and continued down a grassy slope between the ramp and taxiway. During the excursion from the taxiway, the propeller and the tail of the airplane struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He said that the accident could have been prevented if he had studied the airport diagram more closely and noticed the grass strip. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75PW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75PW), registered now, S/N 25-0806, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY 231 - 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: 25-0806 - Airframe hours: 4180 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Philip M. Walker - Registered owner: Philip M. Walker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 2009 - Departed: BWI, Baltimore, MD - Destination: CHO, Charlottesville, VA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CHO, Charlottesville-Albermarle, runway 03, 6,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 10, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,727 total, 1,411 in this make and model, 1,585 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 50° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: CHO ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74684. 2.9 MB in all. - Photo 1 - Indicating Substantial Damage (Photo courtesy of FAA) (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Indicating%20Substantial%20Damage%20(Photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 541 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319119&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airport Diagram (item 4, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319201&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Diagram-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 5, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319210&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.