Pilot Debrief

MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20K near Farmville, VA — 2009-09-18

Final reportERA09LA528
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Date
2009-09-18
Location
Farmville, VA, USA
Airport
FVX
Aircraft
MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20K
Registration
N999DJ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot the airplane was rolling out after landing on runway 21, and the engine surged. When it surged, the pilot had already applied left rudder, as he was "anticipating the left turn onto the taxiway." The airplane then exited the runway, onto sod, went through a Visual Approach Slope Indicator stanchion, and continued in a left turn "through the taxiway" until it impacted a hedge row. Examination of the airplane after the accident, including the throttle, propeller and mixture linkage, as well as the turbocharger, revealed no mechanical anomalies. In addition, the throttle valve would have had to be manually opened to increase power from the engine. Specific pilot actions during the rollout are not known; however, the "taxiway" which he had anticipated turning on was actually a teardrop-shaped turnabout, approximately 1,200 feet from the runway threshold and 1,700 feet prior to the actual taxiway. Winds, reported by the pilot, were from 210 degrees true at 3 knots.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing after engine surge.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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