Mooney M20 N881B

Summary

On 2 September 2002 at about 22:00 local time, a Mooney M20 registered N881B, operated by James Cavenaugh, was involved in an accident near Sierraville, 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

2 September 2002 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sierraville, California, United States

Nearest airport

Sierraville (079)

Coordinates

39.5811, -120.3544

Aircraft

Mooney M20

Registration

N881B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

James Cavenaugh

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sierraville → Cloverdale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX02LA271

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's decision to attempt takeoff in crosswind conditions that likely exceeded the capability of the airplane, and, his subsequent failure to maintain the airplane's proper alignment over the runway. Also causal was the pilot's premature liftoff and subsequent failure to attain sufficient airspeed for the ambient conditions, which resulted in a stall mush. The crosswind and high density altitude were factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane veered off the runway during takeoff from runway 21, became airborne, then impacted the ground, sheering off the left main landing gear. The pilot said that no weather briefing was obtained prior to the flight, and the windsock at the airport was missing. He estimated the winds crossing runway 21 were from 260 degrees to 270 degrees, gusting over 10 knots. The pilot said that just as he was lifting off the ground, the airplane stalled and he lowered the nose. The wind blew the airplane off the side of the runway and he applied rudder and aileron to correct back over the runway; however, the wind continued to push the airplane to the side toward an embankment. He retarded the throttle as the airplane settled to the ground. The density altitude was computed at 7,400 feet at the time of the accident. Review of the airplane's FAA approved flight manual disclosed that the maximum factory demonstrated crosswind performance capability is 11 knots for a takeoff configuration.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.