# NTSB GAA19CA144: Mooney M20J, N201AZ, Ridgeland, SC, February 22, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 22, 2019, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Ridgeland, SC - Coordinates: 32.494167, -80.991111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4942&lon=-80.9911&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99015 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99015/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99015 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA144 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to retract the flaps during an attempted go-around and his failure to maintain the runway heading, which resulted in a collision with terrain left of the runway. ## 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor in the retractable-landing gear airplane reported that, during final with student at the controls, there were no abnormal weather conditions, but as the airplane passed over the runway threshold, the airplane encountered "severe wind shear" that he believed to be a "microburst." The airplane then pitched up, rolled left, and the instructor and student added full power to go around. During the attempted go-around, the instructor took control of the airplane with the landing gear down, full flaps, and the propeller full forward. He added that the airplane "simply" did not have enough performance to climb. Subsequently, the airplane drifted left of the runway and impacted a gravel hill. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation system about 14 nautical miles from the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots, temperature 73°F, dew point 68°F, altimeter 30.14 inches of mercury, and few clouds at 500 ft. The airplane landed on runway 3. The pilot reported that the weather at the airport was wind light and variable, visibility 10 miles, and few clouds at 2,000 ft. The instructor reported the wind as calm to light and variable, visibility 10 miles, and few clouds at 5,000 ft. The instructor further reported that, during the go-around, the airplane's configuration with full flaps for landing was not changed. The airplane's Pilot's Operating Handbook, "Go Around (balked landing)," stated that, following establishing a climb, the flaps should be reduced to the takeoff setting. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor in the retractable landing gear airplane reported that, during final, there were no abnormal weather conditions, but as the airplane passed over the runway threshold, the airplane encountered "severe wind shear" that he believed to be a "microburst". The airplane pitched up, rolled left, and they added full power to go around. During the go around the instructor took control of the airplane, and left the landing gear down, full flaps, and propeller full forward. He added that, the airplane "simply" did not have enough performance to climb. Subsequently, the airplane drifted left of the runway and impacted a gravel hill. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 14 nautical miles from the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots, temperature 73°F, dew point 68°F, and altimeter 30.14 inches of mercury and cloud condition was reported as FEW at 500 feet. The airplane landed on runway 3. The pilot reported the weather at the accident airport was wind light and variable not gusting, visibility 10 miles, and FEW clouds at 2,000 feet. The instructor reported the wind as calm to light and variable, visibility 10 miles, and FEW clouds at 5,000 feet. Further, the instructor reported that during the go around the airplane's configuration with full flaps for landing was not changed. The airplane's POH under Go Around (balked landing) states that following establishing a climb the flaps should be reduced to the takeoff setting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N201AZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201AZ-2022-11-05), registration cancelled 2022-11-05, S/N 24-0423, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20J (No Series) - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0423 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 3354 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A3B60 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2018 - Departed: AQX, Allendale, SC - Destination: 3J1, Ridgeland, SC - Airport: 3J1, Ridgeland-Claude Dean, runway 03, 2,692 × 70 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,174 as pilot in command - Flight instructor; age 36; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: powered-lift, helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 3, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,521 total, 42 in this make and model, 466 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KNBC, 14 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 20190222023659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190222023659A), Feb 22, 2019: Mooney M20J, Ridgeland, SC, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he entered the pattern at a 45 to the downwind for runway 3 at 1000? MSL. On final there was no abnormal weather conditions, the plane was… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 17, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99015. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (CFI) (item 1, .PDF, 507 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471946&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(CFI)-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 508 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471947&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - POH (item 3, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471948&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=POH-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471949&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-Master.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.