# NTSB SEA95LA141: Mooney M20E, N9273M, Ronan, MT, June 29, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 29, 1995, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Ronan, MT
- Coordinates: 47.52964, -114.129463 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5296&lon=-114.1295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42183
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42183/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA141

## Probable cause

DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A ROUGH/UNEVEN AIRSTRIP AND TALL VEGETATION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL ON A ROUGH AND UNEVEN AIRSTRIP, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED, BECAME AIRBORNE AND TURNED SIDEWAYS AS THE LEFT WING TIP CAUGHT IN TALL GRASS NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND REDUCED POWER TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH TREES. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND SPUN AROUND 90 DEGREES TO THE ORIGINAL DIRECTION OF TRAVEL.

## Factual narrative

On June 29, 1995, at 1200 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20E, N9273M, collided with the terrain during the takeoff roll from a private airstrip near Ronan, Montana.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.  The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The flight was departing for Anaconda, Montana, on a personal flight.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that during the takeoff ground roll on the uneven grass airstrip, the airplane bounced, became airborne and turned sideways as the left wing tip caught in tall grass next to the runway.  The pilot opted to abort the takeoff and reduce power to avoid colliding with trees.

The airplane collided with a ditch and spun around 90 degrees to the original direction of travel.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9273M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9273M-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N 1212, built 1966 (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: 1212
- Airframe hours: 2781
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Walter A. Bren
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 1995, 2 hours before
- Destination: 3U3, ANACONDA, MT
- Airport: Wayne Baer Private, runway 36, 2,600 × 40 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,748 total, 131 in this make and model, 1,600 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19950629016709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950629016709A), Jun 29, 1995: Mooney M20E, Ronan, MT, Substantial damage. Taking off on grass strip bounced into air and turned sideways as a wing caught in tall grass. Aborted. Hit ditch.

## Other investigations on N9273M (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 LAX88LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA279), Aug 3, 1988: Mooney M20E (N9273M), Visalia, 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.

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