On November 21, 1992, a Mooney M20J (registration N4766H) operated by The Flying Club was involved in an aviation accident near Santa Ana, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate control of the aircraft during the touch-and-go maneuver, which resulted in a bounce and subsequent loss of directional control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 9 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During touch-and-go pattern practice, the aircraft bounced twice on landing. The pilot applied power and control inputs, but the plane pitched up and left, causing the wings to strike the ground and the landing gear to collapse.
What happened
The pilot was conducting touch-and-go pattern practice operations when the aircraft experienced two bounces upon touchdown. In response to the bounce, the pilot applied additional power and pushed the control yoke forward while simultaneously applying right rudder input.
These control inputs caused the aircraft to pitch upward and yaw to the left. The sequence of events concluded with the left wing striking the ground first, followed immediately by the right wing making contact with the surface. Following the impact, the landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft slid to a stop on the runway.
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate control of the aircraft during the touch-and-go maneuver, which resulted in a bounce and subsequent loss of directional control.