# NTSB SEA08LA159: Mooney M20E, N5652Q, Big Creek, ID, July 7, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 2008, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Big Creek, ID - Coordinates: 45.133056, -115.321662 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1331&lon=-115.3217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68386/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA159 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to abort the landing and failure to achieve the proper touchdown point. Contributing to the accident was a high density altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis While landing on a 3,550-foot long runway, the pilot added power to abort the landing and go-around. The airplane failed to gain sufficient altitude and impacted a parked vehicle about 75 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. Witnesses adjacent to the accident site reported observing the airplane land about three quarters down the runway prior to the pilot aborting the landing. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage and wings were structurally damaged. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to colliding with the vehicle. Using recorded weather information from the nearest weather reporting station to the accident site, the density altitude was calculated to be 7,383 feet mean sea level. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2008, about 1115 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20E, N5652Q, was substantially damaged when it struck a parked vehicle during an aborted landing at the Big Creek Airport (U60), Big Creek, Idaho. The private pilot and his passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that originated from the Mc Call Municipal Airport, Mc Call, Idaho, about 30 minutes prior to the time of the accident. The pilot reported that upon arriving at U60, he over flew the airport and performed a low altitude pass over runway 19 to observe the condition of the runway. The pilot stated that while landing on runway 19, a 3,550-foot long and 110-foot wide turf runway, he thought the airplane was a little fast and applied power to abort the landing. The pilot added that as he initiated the go-around, the airplane reacted normally but did not gain enough altitude prior to colliding with a parked vehicle about 75-feet beyond the departure end of the runway. According to United States Forest Service (USFS) Personnel, witnesses adjacent to the accident site observed the airplane land about three-quarters down the runway prior to the pilot applying power and aborting the landing. Examination of the airplane by USFS personnel revealed that the left and right wing were structurally damaged. The fuselage aft of the cabin area was buckled and twisted. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to colliding with the parked vehicle. The automated surface observation system at MYL, located about 36 miles southwest of U60 reported at 1050, wind calm, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 19 degrees Celsius, dew point 07 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.12 inches of Mercury. Using the reported weather conditions at MYL and a measured field elevation of 5,743 feet mean sea level at U60, the NTSB investigator-in-charge calculated the density altitude to be 7,383 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5652Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5652Q-2010-02-04), registration cancelled 2010-02-04, S/N 682, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20E - Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 682 - Airframe hours: 3655 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2008 - Departed: KMYL, Mc Call, ID - Destination: U60, Big Creek, ID - Airport: U60, Big Creek Airport, runway 19, 3,550 × 110 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,516 total, 751 in this make and model, 1,396 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KMYL, 36 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 20080707841129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080707841129A), Jul 7, 2008: Tcraft 20, Big Creek, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he landed long and fast at this short, high altitude, mountain airstrip. He attempted to go around but hit a pickup truck that was… ## Other investigations on N5652Q (1) 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. - [NTSB OAK68D0188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK68D0188), Aug 16, 1967: Mooney M20E (N5652Q), Chico, CA, substantial damage 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.