N231QL

On October 6, 2002, at 0820 central daylight time, a Mooney M20K airplane, N231QL, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during a go-around at the Birdwin Airport, Port Sulphur, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, and his two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Jackson International Airport, Jackson, Mississippi, at 0720, and was destined for the Birdwin Airport.

According to the pilot, he over flew runway 03, a 2,200 foot long (60 feet wide) grass runway. He observed that the runway was wet; however, there were no hazards or standing water. He then made a second approach to the runway for a full-stop landing. He stated that the approach was a "standard short field approach," and that he flew the approach at 80 mph instead of the standard 90 mph. The pilot had calculated the stopping distance (over a 50-foot obstacle) to be 1,680 feet. The airplane touched down, and the pilot began braking; however, the airplane did not slow down. The pilot then applied maximum braking and the airplane started to skid. The pilot abandoned the landing at midfield and applied full power to initiate a go-around. He stated that the airplane had "little or no directional control." During the initial climb the airplane "fishtailed and went to the left." As the pilot was attempting to maneuver the airplane back toward the runway centerline, approximately 15 feet agl, the left wing contacted a tree limb. Subsequently, the airplane pivoted to the left and collided with an embankment coming to rest upright. The pilot added that the grass was approximately 8-10 inches high. The right wing spar and fuselage were damaged.