Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A ROUGH/UNEVEN AIRSTRIP AND TALL VEGETATION.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA95LA141