GAA18CA511

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20J · Rochester, NH · August 26, 2018

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 26, 2018, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC)
Place
Rochester, NH
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N201BSMooney M20J
Defining event
Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 18, 2019
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20180826016079A
Case key
98163

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

Findings · 5

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedMooney M20J: 7 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotMooney M20J: 36 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builderMooney M20J: 36 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 cases
Landing gear system: brakeAircraft › Aircraft systems · Not installed/availableMooney M20J: 2 casesAll aircraft: 297 cases
Terrain: sloped/uneven terrainEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomeMooney M20J: 3 casesAll aircraft: 270 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot-rated owner reported that he was allowing another pilot to build time in his airplane to qualify for the airplane's insurance. During the accident flight, the pilot occupied the left seat, and the owner occupied the right seat. During takeoff after a touch-and-go landing, the pilot rotated a bit early, and the airplane settled back onto the runway. He aborted the takeoff, applied heavy braking, and the airplane fishtailed and then veered left. The owner took the flight controls, but the airplane exited left of the runway and impacted a ditch. The pilot reported that, during the familiarization flight to practice touch-and-go landings, on the second takeoff, he aborted the takeoff because he realized that he did not have enough runway available. He applied heavy braking, and the airplane veered left into a swamp. The owner added that he was sitting in the right seat and that the right seat position does not have brakes. He believed that his "inexperience at controlling the airplane from the right seat" also contributed to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The owner reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The pilot rated owner reported that, he was allowing another pilot to build time in his airplane to qualify for the airplane's insurance. During the accident flight, the pilot occupied the left seat and the owner occupied the right seat. During takeoff after a touch and go landing, the pilot rotated a bit early and the airplane settled back onto the runway. He aborted the takeoff, applied heavy braking, and the airplane fishtailed and then veered left. The owner took the flight controls, but the airplane exited the runway to the left and impacted a ditch. The pilot reported that, during the familiarization flight to practice touch and go landings, on the second takeoff, he aborted the takeoff because he realized that he did not have enough runway available. He applied heavy braking and the airplane veered to the left into a swamp. The owner added that he was sitting in the right seat, and that the right seat position does not have brakes. He believed that his "inexperience at controlling the airplane form the right seat" also contributed to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The owner reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N201BS
Reported as
Mooney M20J (No Series)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
24-1306
Built
1982
Airframe hours
4,989
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-A386, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 7, 2018
Departed
DAW · Rochester, NH
Destination
DAW · Rochester, NH
Airport
DAW · Skyhaven, runway 15, 4,201 × 75 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
68
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
BasicMed
Last flight review
July 7, 2017
Seat
Right
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
5,000 total · 1,049 in this make and model · 125 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 1.5 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot
Age
35
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 23, 2017
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
215 total · 10 in this make and model · 87 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
200° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 63 °F
Altimeter
30.03 inHg
Observed at
KDAW, 1 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 669 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.