On May 31, 1990, a Mooney M-20F (registration N6873V) was involved in an aviation accident near Aledo, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, IN AS MUCH AS THE PERFORMANCE DATA WAS NOT USED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, INADEQUATE AIRSPEED, AND PREMATURE LIFTOFF. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane made a running start on a grass airstrip with an OAT of 94°F and density altitude of 3,600 feet (airstrip elevation 870 feet). The pilot lifted off past the normal point, the airplane could not fly out of ground effect, and after clearing a road and fence, the pilot reduced power, resulting in terrain impact. The airplane was not overloaded for a normal day but was overloaded for the density altitude.
Introduction
An accident occurred during takeoff from a grass airstrip under high density altitude conditions. The airplane was operated on a day with an outside air temperature of 94 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in a density altitude of 3,600 feet, while the airstrip elevation was 870 feet mean sea level.
Circumstances
The pilot initiated the takeoff with a running start on the grass surface. The airplane lifted off well past the normal liftoff point. After becoming airborne, the airplane would not fly out of ground effect. The pilot kept the airplane airborne until it passed over a road and a fence, at which point he reduced power. The airplane then impacted the terrain.
Findings
Investigation determined that the airplane was not overloaded for a normal day. However, given the density altitude conditions on the day of the accident, the airplane was overloaded. No other factors were cited in the source.