Mooney M20K N231QL

Summary

On 6 October 2002 at about 13:20 local time, a Mooney M20K registered N231QL was involved in an accident near Port Sulphur, Louisiana, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 October 2002 at 13:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Port Sulphur, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Birdwin (7LA1)

Coordinates

29.4583, -89.6767

Aircraft

Mooney M20K

Registration

N231QL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jackson → Port Sulphur

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW03LA007

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees during an attempted go-around. A factor was the wet runway condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot over flew the grass runway and observed that the runway was wet; however, there were no hazards or standing water. The grass on the runway was approximately 8-10 inches high. 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 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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.