# NTSB ERA24LA047: Mooney M20F, N9339M, Meridianville, AL, November 22, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 22, 2023, 17:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Meridianville, AL - Coordinates: 34.869099, -86.556948 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8691&lon=-86.5569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 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): 193420 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193420/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193420 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA047 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while on final approach to land, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, a loss of airplane control, and impact with terrain. ## 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 M20F, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=5870214), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while turning from the left base to the final approach leg of the airport traffic pattern, the airplane’s stall warning horn sounded. The pilot pitched the airplane’s nose down and increased engine power. The airplane then “violent[ly]” pitched up and to the left. He continued his attempt to regain control, but the airplane then pitched up and to the right, and eventually impacted terrain about 200 ft short of the runway threshold. The pilot and passenger incurred minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage, both wings, and engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9339M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9339M-2025-01-30), registration cancelled 2025-01-30, S/N 670253, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F - Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 670253 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 5382 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: M89, Arkadelphia, AR - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MDQ, Huntsville Exec Tom Sharp Jr Fld, runway 18, 6,500 × 100 ft - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,455 total, 316 in this make and model, 1,352 as pilot in command, 12.9 in the last 90 days, 10.9 in the last 30 days, 6.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: MDQ - METAR: KMDQ 222315Z AUTO 31005KT 10SM OVC033 07/03 A3010 RMK A02 T00730031 ## 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 20231122019309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231122019309A), Nov 22, 2023: Mooney M20F, Meridianville, AL, Substantial damage. Aircraft had turned final for runway 18 at mdq. During the approach, the pilot got the aircraft too slow and low and tried to apply power to stabalize the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193420. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16450729&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA047%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16453921&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20with%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 610 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16450303&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA047%20Photo%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.