Pilot Debrief

MOONEY M20F near Helena, MT — 2013-08-02

Final reportWPR13CA355
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Date
2013-08-02
Location
Helena, MT, USA
Airport
HLN
Aircraft
MOONEY M20F
Registration
N2926M
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The flight instructor's delayed decision to instruct the pilot to abort the landing which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a fence.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that the purpose of the flight was for the pilot-undergoing instruction to perform touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings. During the approach, the airplane was slightly fast and touched down about halfway down the runway. The instructor thought the pilot could still successfully complete a takeoff and monitored him as he retracted the flaps. As the airplane continued down the runway, the instructor decided that the airplane’s climb performance would not be sufficient to clear obstacles at the end of the runway and he opted to abort the takeoff. The instructor retarded the throttle lever to the closed position and told the pilot to apply maximum braking pressure. The airplane subsequently went off the end of runway into a grass field and continued about 100 feet before impacting a chain-link fence. During the accident sequence, the wing spar was substantially damaged. The airplane’s brake pedals were only accessible to the left-seated person, which is where the pilot was positioned. The instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He additionally stated that this accident could have been prevented by making a timely decision to go-around when it was apparent that the airplane was going to touchdown further down the runway.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Decision to go around when touchdown point was apparent could have prevented the accident.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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