# NTSB ERA20CA205: Mooney M20C, N2768W, Durham, NC, June 2, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 2, 2020, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Durham, NC - Coordinates: 36.060832, -78.783607 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0608&lon=-78.7836&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101373 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101373/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101373 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA205 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, 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 M20C, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870208), [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; cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=5870208), [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; cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=5870208), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting a soft-field takeoff from a 3,200-ft-long turf runway. The pilot stated that during the takeoff he lowered the airplane’s nose to build airspeed, then began a normal climb. About treetop height, the pilot noticed that the airspeed was decreasing, so he lowered the nose to gain airspeed, but was sacrificing altitude to do so. Realizing that there was limited runway available, and not wanting to collide with the trees at the end of the runway, the pilot again increased the airplane’s pitch to begin a gradual climb. The pilot stated that at that point the airplane did not “have the power or speed to overcome the windshear.” The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A mechanic who watched the airplane during the takeoff noted that it was flying at a “very slow speed” about 30 feet above the ground. The airplane continued to slow before the left wing dropped and the pitch of the nose decreased. The airplane started to turn to the left and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane impacted the ground adjacent to a tree line off the left side of the runway. The fuselage, empennage, and left wing were substantially damaged. The closest automated weather observation station, about 10 miles south, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 240° at 13 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 32. The pilot described that at the time of the accident, the wind was light and variable from the east northeast. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2768W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2768W), registered now, S/N 3355, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20C (No Series) - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3355 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 5003.2 - Engines: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 2020 - Departed: 8NC8, Durham, NC - Destination: HNZ, Oxford, NC - Airport: 8NC8, Lake Ridge Aero Park, runway 32, 3,200 × 150 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 4, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 23,600 total, 120 in this make and model, 21,200 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KRDU, 10 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 20200602009499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200602009499A), Jun 2, 2020: Mooney M20C, Durham, NC, Substantial damage. The PIC was taking off on runway 32, after lift off and during the initial climb, got to about tree level height and started to hear the stall horn. He then… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 13, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101373. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9858026&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9931196&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 749 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9859198&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.