# NTSB ERA11CA494: Mooney M20K, N231K, Anderson, SC, September 15, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 15, 2011, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Anderson, SC
- Coordinates: 34.490001, -82.705558 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4900&lon=-82.7056&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81817
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA494
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81817/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81817
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA494

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an attempted go-around.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he landed the airplane, and, about halfway down the runway, the wind shifted to a strong tailwind and the airplane’s tail rose up. The airplane veered to the left, and the pilot applied full power to perform a go-around. The airplane became airborne, but the airspeed was inadequate; the left wing struck the ground, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in a grassy area on the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, firewall, and left wing. The pilot reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated he landed the airplane on runway 5 and about half way down the runway the wind shifted to a strong tailwind and the tail raised up. The airplane veered to the left. He applied full power in order to prevent the airplane from turning, the airplane became airborne, but the pilot realized that there was not enough "airspeed" or runway remaining to perform the go around. Therefore, the pilot reduced the power, the left wing struck the ground, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in a grassy area on the left side of the runway. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the fuselage, firewall, and left wing during the accident sequence. The pilot reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The wind reported at the airport about the time of the accident was from 280 degrees at 7 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231K-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 25-0004, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20K
- 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: 25-0004
- Airframe hours: 3497
- Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Inteworx.Net Inc
- Registered owner: Inteworx.Net Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 14, 2011
- Departed: AND, Anderson, SC
- Destination: AND, Anderson, SC
- Airport: AND, Anderson Regional Airport, runway 05, 6,002 × 149 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 27, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 876 total, 770 in this make and model, 174 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: AND

## 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 20110915022259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110915022259A), Sep 15, 2011: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, Anderson, SC, Substantial damage. Aircraft was landing on runway 5 at Anderson, SC. At the point of touch down, the pilot reported that the wind appeared to raise the tail and in an attempt to…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 10, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81817. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355006&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355012&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- AND Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355013&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=AND%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: View of Airplane Wreckage (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 4, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355014&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: View of Firewall Damage (item 5, .PDF, 590 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355015&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20View%20of%20Firewall%20Damage-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.