GAA19CA546

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20M · Chandler, AZ · September 14, 2019

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 14, 2019, 08:05 local (15:05 UTC)
Place
Chandler, AZ
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N1085WMooney M20M
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 17, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20190914023079A
Case key
100260

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

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot's improper pitch control during takeoff and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's failure to take remedial action.

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: pitch controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedMooney M20M: 3 casesAll aircraft: 526 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotMooney M20M: 11 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: angle of attackAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededMooney M20M: 3 casesAll aircraft: 990 casesProbable cause
Action: lack of actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilotMooney M20M: 2 casesAll aircraft: 792 casesProbable cause
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationMooney M20M: 2 casesAll aircraft: 1,008 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 reported that, during a familiarization flight with a flight instructor in a recently purchased airplane and while demonstrating a soft-field takeoff, the tower controller cleared him for takeoff "with no delay." He quickly taxied the airplane to the runway centerline, applied power, and pulled back on the yoke. He added that, in retrospect, the back pressure he used was too abrupt. The airplane entered ground effect about 10 knots slower than normal and was unable to maintain flight in ground effect, and he was struggling to maintain the runway heading. The airplane then touched down "abruptly several times." The airplane drifted left, and the pilot thought there was a positive climb rate, so he retracted the landing gear. Additionally, he was "too aggressive" with control inputs and "caused a stall." The left wing struck the taxiway, and the airplane came to rest on the ramp. The pilot reported that the instructor did not take the flight controls. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during a familiarization flight with a flight instructor in a recently purchased, retractable landing gear-equipped airplane, while demonstrating a soft field takeoff, the tower controller cleared him for takeoff "with no delay." He quickly taxied the airplane to the runway centerline, applied power, and pulled back on the yoke. He added that, in retrospect, the back pressure used was too abrupt. The airplane entered ground effect about 10 knots slower than normal and was unable to maintain flight in ground effect and he was struggling to maintain runway heading. The airplane touched down "abruptly several times." The airplane drifted to the left and he thought he had a positive rate of climb, so he retracted the landing gear. Additionally, he was "too aggressive" with control inputs and "caused a stall." The left wing struck the taxiway and the airplane came to rest on the ramp. The pilot reported that the instructor did not take the flight controls. The flight instructor did not provide a statement to the NTSB. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 090° at 13 knots. The pilot was departing on runway 04L.

Aircraft

Registration
N1085W
Reported as
Mooney M20M (No Series)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
27-0043
Built
1990
Airframe hours
2,724.9
Engine
Lycoming TIO-540-AF1B, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 27, 2018
Departed
CHD · Chandler, AZ
Destination
CHD · Chandler, AZ
Airport
CHD · Chandler Muni, runway 04L, 4,401 × 75 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather

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
63
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
BasicMed
Last flight review
January 19, 2018
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
1,041.3 total · 46.7 in this make and model · 926.7 as pilot in command · 31.2 in the last 90 days · 13.3 in the last 30 days
Role
Flight instructor
Age
72
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight engineer, Airline transport, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
90° at 13 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
12,000 ft broken
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
29.98 inHg
Observed at
KCHD

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.6 MB 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.

Other investigations on N1085W · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.