Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance which resulted in an inflight collision with a tree. Contributing factors are a crosswind and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for wind conditions
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On April 11, 1995, at 1315 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20K, N331DF, was substantially damaged when it struck a tree during a go-around at the Tangier Island Airport, Tangier Island, Virginia. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Coatesville, Pennsylvania. An IFR flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated in a telephone interview that he departed Coatesville, Pennsylvania, with full fuel tanks on an IFR flight to Tangier Island (TGI). The flight to TGI took about 45 minutes, and during touch down on runway 2, the airplane started to drift left. He attempted to correct with right rudder, but decided to go-around. At approximately 10 feet above the runway, during the go-around, the left wing struck a 2 inch diameter tree and then struck the ground. The pilot said that weather and wind were not a factor.
The winds reported at an airport about 26 miles from TGI were from 050 degrees at 12 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC95LA085