# NTSB NYC95LA085: Mooney M20K, N331DF, Tangier Island, VA, April 11, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 1995, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Tangier Island, VA - Coordinates: 37.820922, -75.990898 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8209&lon=-75.9909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38941 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38941/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA085 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance which resulted in an inflight collision with a tree. Contributing factors are a crosswind and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for wind conditions ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aborted landing - initiated, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED A 45 MINUTE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 02 AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO VEER LEFT, AND THE PILOT ABORTED THE LANDING. THE PILOT INITIATED A CLIMB AND ABOUT 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A 2-INCH DIAMETER TREE; THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND STRUCK THE GROUND. WINDS REPORTED AT AN AIRPORT 26 MILES AWAY WERE FROM 050 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 1995, at 1315 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20K, N331DF, was substantially damaged when it struck a tree during a go-around at the Tangier Island Airport, Tangier Island, Virginia. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Coatesville, Pennsylvania. An IFR flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated in a telephone interview that he departed Coatesville, Pennsylvania, with full fuel tanks on an IFR flight to Tangier Island (TGI). The flight to TGI took about 45 minutes, and during touch down on runway 2, the airplane started to drift left. He attempted to correct with right rudder, but decided to go-around. At approximately 10 feet above the runway, during the go-around, the left wing struck a 2 inch diameter tree and then struck the ground. The pilot said that weather and wind were not a factor. The winds reported at an airport about 26 miles from TGI were from 050 degrees at 12 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N331DF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N331DF-2014-09-16), registration cancelled 2014-09-16, S/N 25-0003, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K - Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-0003 - Airframe hours: 3793 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Debonaire Flyers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 1994, 81 hours before - Departed: 40N, COATSVILLE, PA - Destination: TGI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TGI, Tangier Island, runway 2, 2,950 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 650 total, 30 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 12 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: WAL, 26 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 19950411007179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950411007179A), Apr 11, 1995: Mooney M20K, Tangier, VA, Substantial damage. Struck a tree during a go around. Failed to note or correct drift off runway alignment. 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.