Mooney M20E-NO SERIES N11LV

Summary

On 14 February 2015 at about 16:00 local time, a Mooney M20E-NO SERIES registered N11LV, operated by Michael A Cottle, was involved in an accident near Bakersfield, California, United States. 2 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

14 February 2015 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bakersfield, California, United States

Nearest airport

Meadows Field (BFL)

Coordinates

35.4339, -119.0578

Aircraft

Mooney M20E-NO SERIES

Registration

N11LV

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

Michael A Cottle

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bakersfield → Hayward

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR15LA113

Nobody was injured.

The collapse of all three landing gear during the takeoff roll for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, he felt what he thought was the left main wheel roll over a recessed runway light, followed by the airplane swaying left. Immediately thereafter, both main landing gear collapsed, and then the nose landing gear collapsed. A postaccident examination of the landing gear system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, no evidence of balding, nicks, nor any other type of tire damage was found that could have been attributed to either tire impacting the recessed lighting during the takeoff roll as reported by the pilot. The reason for the collapse of all three landing gear could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.