# NTSB ERA19LA269: Mooney M20J, N202JB, Bowie, MD, September 12, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 12, 2019, 11:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Bowie, MD - Coordinates: 38.944999, -76.77333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9450&lon=-76.7733&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100246 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA269 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100246/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100246 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA269 ## Probable cause A blockage of the pitot static system that preclude the airspeed indicator from displaying speeds greater than 40 mph, which led the pilot to abort the landing and overrun the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Indicating/recording systems: instrument panel ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023110): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023110/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023110/cases.md) - [Navigation system: pitot/static system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023411): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023411/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023411/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and noted no anomalies. The pilot initiated the takeoff roll and noted that the airplane’s airspeed never rose above 40 mph. The airplane was about one-third to halfway down the 2,420-ft runway when the pilot elected to abort the takeoff then overran the departure end of the runway. The airplane broke through the airport perimeter fence and struck a car on a highway just off the airport property, which resulted in the left wing separating from the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane was unable to find any anomalies with the airspeed indicator, pitot tube, or pitot static system between the left-wing root and the airspeed indicator that would have precluded normal operation. Due to the wing’s impact damage, investigators were unable to functionally test the portion of the pitot system between the pitot tube and the left-wing root. It is possible that the pitot static system was blocked during the accident flight, preventing the airspeed indicator from displaying airspeeds above 40 mph and leading the pilot to decide to abort the takeoff, then the blockage became dislodged during the accident sequence. ## Factual narrative On September 12, 2019, about 1120 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20J airplane, N202JB, impacted a car after aborting a takeoff from Freeway Airport (W00), Bowie, Maryland. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the personal cross-county flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane with no anomalies noted. Then, he taxied to the active runway and initiated the takeoff roll; he noted that the airspeed rose to 40 mph. A moment later he looked again, and the airspeed did not rise above 40 mph. The airplane was about one-third to halfway down the 2,420-ft runway when the pilot elected to abort the takeoff, and subsequently overran the departure end of runway 36. The airplane broke through the airport perimeter fence and struck a car on a highway just off the airport property. The airplane's left wing sustained leading-edge impact damage and had separated from the airframe at the wing root. The right wing and fuselage were also substantially damaged. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an examination of the airplane's pitot/static system. The tubing that supplied air to the airspeed indicator was secure to the back of the instrument. Uncalibrated pressurized air was applied to the fractured tubing at the left-wing root and the airspeed indicator moved and indicated up to 95 knots. The pitot tube was undamaged and remained attached to the left wing. It was removed and no debris was noted in the ram-air intake or drainage holes. An attempt was made to run pressurized air from the pitot tube to the left-wing root, however due to impact damage on the wing, air was unable to pass through the tubing. According to the airframe maintenance logbook, the most recent annual inspection was completed on June 19, 2019, at a total time of 4,405.2 hours. The most recent altimeter/Pitot-static system check was completed August 8, 2018. Maintenance was completed on the instrument panel of the airplane on the day prior to the accident, however, the mechanic stated to the FAA inspector that the work performed was not near the airspeed indicator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N202JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N202JB-2021-08-07), registration cancelled 2021-08-07, S/N 24-0644, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20J (No Series) - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0644 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 4439 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A386D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 2019, 34 hours before - Departed: W00, Bowie, MD - Destination: CRW, Charleston, WV - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: W00, Freeway, runway 36, 2,420 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,148 total, 110 in this make and model, 1,016 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: CGS, 7 nm away ## 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 20190912013009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190912013009A), Sep 12, 2019: Mooney M20J, Bowie, MD, Substantial damage. During takeoff the pilot observed that the airspeed indicator did not rise above 40 knots. He attempted to abort the takeoff too FAR down the 2400 foot runway… ## Other investigations on N202JB (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN81FTG19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTG19), Sep 5, 1981: Mooney M20J (N202JB), Mapleton, ND, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100246. 4.6 MB in all. - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector (item 1, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483901&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Investigative Photographs (item 2, .PDF, 8 photos, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483903&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-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.