# NTSB FTW98LA082: Mooney M20, N6159E, Pocahontas, AR, December 13, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 13, 1997, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Pocahontas, AR - Coordinates: 36.260864, -90.960189 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2609&lon=-90.9602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20508/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA082 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve. A related factor was: the pilot's lack of recent experience in the make and model of airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis During the takeoff roll, the Mooney M20 airplane 'suddenly' turned to the left, skidded sideways, went off the runway into the grass, and came to a stop in a drainage ditch. The pilot reported that he was initially able to correct for the left turn and bring the airplane back to the right side of the runway. However, at about this point, he 'may have inadvertently' applied the brakes. Subsequently, the airplane 'went into [a] skid sideways.' The private pilot had accumulated 135 hours of flight time, of which 13 hours were in a Mooney M20 airplane. He had made approximately 25 takeoffs and landings in the accident airplane; however, he had not flown the airplane during the 30 days preceding the accident. ## Factual narrative On December 13, 1997, at 1400 central standard time, a Mooney M20 airplane, N6159E, registered to and operated by a private owner, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during takeoff roll at Nick Wilson Field, Pocahontas, Arkansas. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight that was originating when the accident occurred. During a telephone interview and in a written statement, the pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that during the takeoff roll on runway 36, the airplane had not yet reached takeoff speed when "it darted to the left." The pilot further reported that "the break to the left was abrupt and extreme" as though the airplane had encountered "an extreme gust of wind," although "there was hardly any wind that day." He corrected for the left turn and brought the airplane back to the right side of the runway. At this point, he "may have inadvertently" applied the brakes. The airplane "went into [a] skid sideways and went off the runway to the left." During the telephone interview, the pilot added that he "probably did not get the power back quick enough." According to the passenger, during the takeoff roll, the airplane "suddenly turned to the left, skidded sideways," and went off the runway into the grass. The airplane came to a stop in a drainage ditch off to the left side of the runway. According to the owner, the nose gear was folded to the left, the fuselage was buckled and twisted aft of the baggage compartment, and the belly skin was crushed upward in the area of the wing carry-through spar. According to FAA records, the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate with a single engine land airplane rating on June 1, 1997. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot indicated that he had accumulated 134.6 hours of flight time of which 12.8 hours were in a Mooney M20 airplane. In the 30 days preceding the accident, he had not flown a Mooney M20 airplane. In his written statement, the pilot commented that he had "made twenty/thirty takeoffs and landings in Mooney N6159E." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6159E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6159E-2013-02-01), registration cancelled 2013-02-01, S/N 1181, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20 - Registry model: [Mooney M20](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20) (registry code 5870202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1181 - Airframe hours: 2777 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A1A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William G. Swink - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 1997, 42 hours before - Departed: M70 - Airport: M70, Nick Wilson Field, runway 36, 3,999 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 135 total, 13 in this make and model, 36 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ARG, 6 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 19971213046509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971213046509A), Dec 13, 1997: Mooney M20, Pocahontas, AR, No damage. (-23) During the take off roll, aircraft control was lost, aircraft departed runway to the left leaving skid marks from the left main tire onto the pavement… 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.