MIA06CA079

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20R · Destin, FL · April 5, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 5, 2006, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
Place
Destin, FL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N4654MMooney M20R
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 29, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Birmingham, Alabama
FAA report
20060405003859A
Case key
63459

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 airspeed while attempting a go-around at a low altitude which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush, an uncontrolled descent and an impact with terrain.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightGo-around (vfr)
Altitude/clearance - lowPilot in command
Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The pilot stated that he made a smooth touchdown on the runway centerline, and after a "couple hundred feet", a strong gust of wind blew him to the left toward the runway edge lights. He said he made the decision to go around, applied full throttle, and "pulled up sharply" to avoid hitting the runway lights. He further stated that the stall warning then activated, so he lowered the nose of the airplane but "apparently did not have sufficient airspeed to maintain altitude. He said he tried to turn back to the runway, but felt a sudden "spin" to the left about 30 degrees, as the airplane impacted the ground. Prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems.

Factual narrative

On April 5, 2006, about 1830 central daylight time, a Mooney M20R airplane, N4654M, registered to and operated by the a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight, crashed while attempting a go-around following touchdown at Destin, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. The private-rated pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the same day, about 1730.

The pilot stated that about 5 miles from Destin, Florida, he cancelled his IFR flight plan in preparation for the visual approach to runway 14. He said that the winds were from 280 degrees, at a velocity of 10 knots, gusting to 14. At an altitude of 200 feet he said he encountered some turbulence, but made a smooth touchdown on the runway centerline, and after a "couple hundred feet", a strong gust of wind blew him to the left toward the runway edge lights. He said he made the decision to go around, applied full throttle, and "pulled up sharply" to avoid hitting the runway lights. He further stated that the stall warning then activated, so he lowered the nose of the airplane but "apparently did not have sufficient airspeed to maintain altitude. He said he tried to turn back to the runway, but felt a sudden "spin" to the left about 30 degrees, as the airplane impacted the ground. Prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems.

Aircraft

Registration
N4654M
Reported as
Mooney M20R
Category
Airplane
Serial number
29-0370
Engine
Teledyne Continental O-550-G7B, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
McMahan Aviation LLC.,
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 1, 2005
Departed
HBG · Hattiesburg, MS
Destination
DTS · Destin, FL
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
DTS · Destin-Ft. Walton Beach, runway 14, 4,999 × 100 ft, asphalt

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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
59
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3
Last flight review
March 1, 2006
Seat
Left
Flight hours
750 total · 270 in this make and model · 540 as pilot in command · 103 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
280° at 10 knots, gusting 14
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
68 °F, dew point 54 °F
Altimeter
29.98 inHg
Observed at
DTS

FAA reports on this event · 1

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