Mooney M20K N231LK

Summary

On 12 August 2004 at about 22:12 local time, a Mooney M20K registered N231LK was involved in an accident near Edgartown, Massachusetts, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

12 August 2004 at 22:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Edgartown, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Vineyard Haven Airport (MVY)

Coordinates

41.3928, -70.6142

Aircraft

Mooney M20K

Registration

N231LK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Philadelphia → Edgartown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC04LA191

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while performing maneuvers to land, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush. A factor was the gusting wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Upon arriving in the airport area, the pilot was informed to expect a visual approach to runway 24. While on the downwind leg for runway 24, the tower controller asked the pilot if he could make a visual approach to runway 15. The pilot replied that he could accept the visual approach to runway 15, and made a left hand turn towards the runway. During the final approach to runway 15, the pilot recalled that his approach speed was approximately 90 knots, and he was slowing the airplane for landing. Suddenly, and without warning, the left wing dropped, and the pilot was unable to control the airplane with aileron inputs. The airplane descended, and impacted the ground about 900 feet prior to the runway threshold. The pilot added that the engine was producing power at all times and when the left wing dropped he applied full power. The pilot subsequently stated on his submission of NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that during the turn to runway 15, he reduced the speed to 90 knots, and performed s-turns to lower his altitude. Approximately 15 seconds before landing, the airplane encountered a wind shear, "one wing went down, one wing went up," and the ailerons did not seem to respond to inputs. One wing then struck a tree, and the airplane landed in bushes prior to the runway. According to an air traffic controller at the airport, the winds were fluctuating, with gusts to 20 knots. She had no reports of wind shear prior to the accident. The winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident, were from 150 at 14 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.