# NTSB IAD05LA053: Mooney M20J, N4398H, Rocky Hill, NJ, April 7, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 6, 2005, 20:00 local (Apr 7, 2005, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Rocky Hill, NJ - Coordinates: 40.399166, -74.658889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3992&lon=-74.6589&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61274 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61274/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA053 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, and subsequent impact with terrain. Factors included the night lighting conditions, and the airplane approaching the opposite runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent - light condition - night (contributing factor) - object - other (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis On the short final leg of the approach to the destination airport, the pilot observed an airplane at the opposite end of the runway and initiated a go-around. He turned the airplane right, applied full power, and retracted the landing gear, flaps and speed brakes. As he was attempting to adjust the elevator trim in a nose down direction, and was holding forward pressure on the control yoke, the airplane "stalled," and the airplane impacted the ground. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated, "I should have done a go-around straight down the runway, not a 45-degree turn off airport." ## Factual narrative On April 6, 2005, about 2000 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N4398H, was substantially damaged during a go-around at Princeton Airport (39N), Rocky Hill, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, which departed from Cape May County Airport (WWD), Wildwood, New Jersey. According to a written statement submitted by the pilot, he overflew the airport, activated the pilot controlled lighting, and announced his position on the common traffic advisory frequency. He then descended the airplane to the traffic pattern altitude, and announced his position while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. He did not hear any other airplanes making position announcements. The pilot maintained 70 mph while on the "short" final leg of the approach. About 20-30 feet above the ground, he observed another airplane at the opposite end of the runway, at the same altitude. He then made a right turn and initiated a go-around. The pilot applied full power, and retracted the landing gear, flaps, and speed brakes. He held forward pressure on the control yoke, and was attempting to adjust the elevator trim in a nose down direction, when the airplane "stalled." The right wing of the airplane subsequently contacted rising terrain, and the airplane impacted the ground. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated, "I should have done a go-around straight down the runway, not a 45-degree turn off airport." The weather reported at Trenton Mercer Airport (TTN), Trenton, New Jersey, located 10 nautical miles southwest, at 1953, included winds from 190 degrees at 3 knots, and clear skies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4398H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4398H-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N 24-0725, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0725 - Airframe hours: 5926 - Engines: Continental IO-550 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: K T W & Associates LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 2004, 40 hours before - Departed: WWD, Wildwood, NJ - Destination: 39N, Rocky Hill, NJ - Airport: 39N, Princeton Airport, runway 28, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 339 total, 38 in this make and model, 240 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: TTN, 10 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 20050406004949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050406004949A), Apr 6, 2005: Mooney M20J, Princeton/Rocky, NJ, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot was approaching to land on runway 28 at Princeton Airport (39N) in VMC conditions, on short final approximately 20 to 30 feet above runway surface… 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.