# NTSB ERA11CA460: Mooney M20R, N121RP, West Chester, PA, August 16, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 16, 2011, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: West Chester, PA - Coordinates: 39.98722, -75.575553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9872&lon=-75.5756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 27, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81526 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA460 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81526/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81526 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA460 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during an approach to the runway, the wind was gusting. As he reached the threshold, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane dropped to the runway then bounced. The pilot realized that the airplane was both airborne and slow, so he applied full takeoff power to initiate a go-around. The airplane encountered another gust and started to drop again as the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot retracted the landing gear in an attempt to climb, but the airplane impacted the runway and slid into the grass. An examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that the wind was variable at 8 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during an approach to the runway, the winds were gusting. As he reached the threshold, the stall warning horn sounded. The airplane dropped to the runway and then bounced. The pilot realized that the airplane was both airborne and slow so he applied full takeoff power to initiate a go-around. The airplane encountered another gust and started to drop again as the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot retracted the landing gear in an attempt to climb, but the airplane impacted the runway and slid into the grass. An examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that the winds were variable at 8 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N121RP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N121RP), registered now, S/N 29-0141, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20R - Registry model: [Mooney M20R](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20r) (registry code 5870225) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29-0141 - Airframe hours: 1246 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John A Rossi Inc - Registered owner: John A Rossi Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 8, 2010, 105 hours before - Departed: PHF, Newport News, VA - Destination: N99, West Chester, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: N99, Brandywine Airport, runway 09, 3,347 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 10, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,849 total, 655 in this make and model, 1,747 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 8 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: OQN ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110816017769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110816017769A), Aug 16, 2011: Mooney M20R, West Chester, PA, Substantial damage. The pilot was on a visual approach and landing to runway 9 at koqn in gusty wind conditions (reported by the pilot as 340 T0 050 degrees, 5 to 10 knots,… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81526. 7.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 693 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353590&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 932 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies-FAA statement (item 3, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-FAA%20statement-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Initial Statement (item 4, .PDF, 679 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Initial%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams (item 5, .PDF, 389 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353603&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams-Master.PDF - Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams-FAA ground impact photo (item 6, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353608&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams-FAA%20ground%20impact%20photo-Master.PDF - Photo 1-FAA photo (item 7, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-FAA%20photo-Master.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.