- Date
- September 15, 1995, 11:13 local (15:13 UTC)
- Place
- Jonestown, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5688MMooney M20J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950915029879A
- Case key
- 39050
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 failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around.
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.
Analysis
The airplane descended and collided with a residence during a go-around. The pilot reported that when he initiated the go-around, the airplane 'pulled' sharply to the left which he was unable to correct with full right aileron. He indicated that the airplane would not climb despite retracting the gear. He did not recall if the flaps were up or down. Several witnesses stated that the airplane was in a steep right turn, and that the nose was at an unusually high attitude before it descended.
Factual narrative
On September 15, 1995, about 1113 eastern daylight time, a Mooney, M20J, N5688M, collided with the terrain after initiating a go-around at a private airstrip near Jonestown, Pennsylvania. The airplane was destroyed. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
Just before touchdown the pilot elected to abort the approach and applied engine power for a go-around. The pilot stated, "...on final flair out right wing lifted and airplane veered to left."
According to the FAA Inspector's statement:
...the aircraft was destroyed from post impact fire...initial impact was where the prop appeared to hit a concrete porch...approximately 5 gallons of fuel [was drained] from the right wing tank. The left wing tank appeared empty. The fuel selector was on the right tank...the pilot stated that the airplane veered to the left and he was unable to gain control...several witnesses stated that the airplane was in a steep right turn, and the nose was at an unusually high attitude....
Examination of the engine did not reveal any discrepancies. The pilot said to the FAA after the accident, "...the engine seemed to be developing full power...."
At the time of the accident, the pilot had 743 total flight hours, 100 flight hours in this make and model airplane.
The reported local weather at the time of the accident was; clear, visibility 20 miles, temperature 66 degrees F, dew point 50 degrees F, wind 020 degrees, 6 knots, altimeter 30.31 inches Hg.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5688M
- Reported as
- Mooney M20J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-1600
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Francic W. Jamison
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- ART · Watertown, NY
- Airport
- 8PA1 · Dee Jay, runway 27, 2,000 × ft, grass/turf
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
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 743 total · 100 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.