Pilot Debrief

MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20C near Mitchellville, MD — 2013-09-02

Final reportERA13LA391
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Date
2013-09-02
Location
Mitchellville, MD, USA
Airport
W00
Aircraft
MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20C
Registration
N78951
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to ensure that the wing flaps were properly configured before takeoff.

NTSB narrative

The airplane departed from the 2,420-foot-long asphalt runway near its maximum gross weight. Review of witness statements and a video revealed that the airplane initially lifted off and climbed out of ground effect; however, it subsequently descended in a nose-up attitude into trees about 250 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the flaps were in the fully extended position and that the flap position indicator was indicating the "down" position (fully extended). No other preimpact anomalies were observed with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The takeoff checklist indicated that the pilot should pump the hydraulically actuated flap handle twice, which would extend the flaps to a 15-degree takeoff position. If the flap handle were pumped four and one-half times, the flaps would extend to the full-down position. It is likely that the pilot repeated that checklist item twice, which would have placed the flaps at or near the fully extended position. Review of performance data revealed that adequate runway length existed for the airplane to take off if its flaps had been in the takeoff position.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have ensured proper flap setting before takeoff.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 13 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents13

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