N2926M

Substantial
None

MOONEY M20FS/N: 22-1282

Accident Details

Date
Friday, August 2, 2013
NTSB Number
WPR13CA355
Location
Helena, MT
Event ID
20130804X12718
Coordinates
46.606666, -111.982498
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

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.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
MOONEY
Serial Number
22-1282
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1975
Model / ICAO
M20FM20P
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
4
FAA Model
M20F

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
DRAMSTAD HAROLD
Address
610 WILDER AVE
City
HELENA
State / Zip Code
MT 59601-2533
Country
United States

Analysis

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.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR13CA355