# NTSB FTW97LA153: Mooney M20F, N6492Q, Marietta, OK, April 6, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 6, 1997, 15:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Marietta, OK - Coordinates: 33.930934, -97.120964 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9309&lon=-97.1210&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20194 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20194/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA153 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate short field takeoff. A factor was the pilot's lack of recent experience in short field takeoffs from a grass/turf runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - short field takeoff/procedure - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis During the takeoff, the airplane was 'at low speed with approximately 10 degrees of flaps and flew for about 5 seconds before veering to the right.' The pilot tried to realign the airplane with the runway; however, the left main gear struck the side of the runway and the airplane came to rest in a ravine along the side of the runway. The pilot stated that this accident could have been prevented by 'minimiz[ing] time spent in ground effect when taking off on a windy day (and gusty day) from grass runways.' The pilot reported that he had 38.2 hours in the M20F airplane; however, he had never done a short field takeoff from a grass/turf runway in this airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 6, 1997, at 1515 central standard time, a Mooney M20F, N6492Q, registered to Texas Aerodyne Corporation and operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91, impacted terrain during the takeoff near Marietta, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot and the sole passenger received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned personal cross country flight from Marietta to Fort Worth, Texas. The pilot had not filed a flight plan and the flight was originating at the time of the accident. During interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, and on the Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot stated the following information. The flight departed Luck Airport, Fort Worth, Texas, at 1355 for a VFR flight to Marietta, Oklahoma. An uneventful arrival landing was made at the private grass/turf runway at the McGehee Restaurant near Marietta. Following lunch, while preparing for the departure flight, the pilot noted that the winds were "pretty much down the runway; however they were gusting from 15 to 20 knots and varying at times from 330 to 010 degrees." As the airplane began the takeoff roll, a car was observed on the road that crosses the runway; however, the airplane lifted off the runway before the road. The airplane was "at low speed with approximately 10 degrees of flaps and flew for about 5 seconds before veering to the right." The pilot tried to realign the airplane with the runway; however, the left main gear struck the side of the runway and the airplane came to rest in a ravine along the side of the runway. The pilot stated that this accident could have been prevented by "minimiz[ing] time spent in ground effect when taking off on a windy day (and gusty day) from grass runways." The pilot reported that he had 38.2 hours in the M20F airplane; however, he had never done a shortfield takeoff from a grass/turf runway in this airplane. The FAA inspector examined the airplane and found the engine separated from the firewall. The right wing and fuselage had structural damage and the main landing gear was separated from the airframe. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6492Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6492Q-2016-09-06), registration cancelled 2016-09-06, S/N 680034, 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: 680034 - Airframe hours: 5094 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Texas Aerodyne Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1997, 18 hours before - Destination: F71, FORT WORTH, TX - Airport: T40, Mcgehee Restaurant, runway 35, 2,450 × 55 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 955 total, 40 in this make and model, 813 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 30 °F ## 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 19970406004989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970406004989A), Apr 6, 1997: Mooney M20F, Marietta, OK, Substantial damage. Premature takeoff in gusty wind due a vehicle on road crossing runway. Drifted landed off runway into a ravine. (-23) on April 6, 1997, at 1600 CST, a money… ## Other investigations on N6492Q (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 FTW81FPD27](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FPD27), Jun 7, 1981: Mooney M20F (N6492Q), Fort Worth, TX, substantial damage 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.