Mooney M20C N9680M

Summary

On 18 April 2015 at about 19:52 local time, a Mooney M20C registered N9680M was involved in an accident near Winchester, Tennessee, United States. 5 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 April 2015 at 19:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Winchester, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Winchester Muni (BGF)

Coordinates

35.1675, -86.0658

Aircraft

Mooney M20C

Registration

N9680M

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Winchester → Winchester

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA190

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's inadequate weight and balance and performance planning, including his decision to take off with more passengers than permitted, and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot attempted to take off in a four-seat airplane with five adults onboard. A witness reported that the airplane lifted off about halfway down the 5,002-ft-long runway and momentarily climbed, then "suddenly dropped" and impacted terrain at the end of the runway. Review of weight and balance information indicated that the airplane was loaded at least 290 lbs above its maximum gross weight of 2,575 lbs. Had the airplane been loaded within limits, it could have taken off and cleared a 50-ft obstacle within a distance about 1,700 ft. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. It is likely that the airplane's performance was significantly reduced given its gross weight, and that the pilot exceeded the critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.