Mooney M20R N321MD

Summary

On 1 July 2007 at about 21:30 local time, a Mooney M20R registered N321MD was involved in an accident near Mitchellville, Maryland, 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

1 July 2007 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Mitchellville, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Freeway (W00)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Mooney M20R

Registration

N321MD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mitchellville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA07CA115

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point for landing and his failure to initiate a go-around when he realized the airplane would touchdown past the intended point.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the airplane was on the glide path and approach speed was approximately 85 knots. Several minutes prior, the manifold pressure gauge became erratic and was unable to be used as an accurate indication. He pushed the manifold control full forward for the remainder of the approach. The landing touchdown was 1/3 down the runway and seemed to be a "tad fast". Halfway down the runway, he realized the engine wasn't going completely to idle. At about 2/3 down the runway, knowing that the airplane was too fast, he looked at the option of going around and ruled it out because of the slow speed and the height needed to clear the tree line. He attempted to slow the airplane by applying full brakes; however, was unable to slow down before running off the runway. The pilot stated to the NTSB investigator that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane and he should have initiated a go-around. The published length of runway 18/36 at the Freeway Airport, Mitchellville, Maryland, is 2,420 feet by 40 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.