Mooney M20C N5954Q

Summary

On 22 October 2023 at about 18:00 local time, a Mooney M20C registered N5954Q was involved in an accident near Morganton, North Carolina, 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

22 October 2023 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Morganton, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Foothills Regional Airport (MRN)

Coordinates

35.8198, -81.6117

Aircraft

Mooney M20C

Registration

N5954Q

Category

Airplane

Year built

1965

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA086

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with the runway’s precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger reported that the airplane had undergone recent maintenance, and the purpose of flight was to perform a test flight. The first takeoff was made without issue and the pilot landed after performing two go-arounds in the traffic pattern. The pilot then taxied to the ramp and completed a visual inspection of the airplane. Subsequently, the pilot taxied for another takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began pulling and turning to the left, and despite the pilot’s control applications, the airplane departed the runway and its left wing collided with the runway’s precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights. The collision with the PAPI lights resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.