On May 14, 1995, a Mooney M20F (registration N9399V) operated by John R. Taylor was involved in an aviation accident near Frederick, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S USE OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR TAKEOFF AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING AN ABORT. FACTORS WERE A SOFT AND WET AIR STRIP. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a pre-departure acceleration test, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft on the dirt strip, resulting in an overrun through a fence and ditch onto a nearby road.
What happened
The pilot reported that he was conducting an acceleration test prior to departure. During this maneuver, he attempted to stop the aircraft but was unable to do so within the available runway length. The aircraft slid off the end of the 2,800-foot-long dirt strip, crossed through a fence and a ditch, and came to rest on a road bordering the airstrip.
The pilot stated that he applied the brakes when the airspeed reached 70 knots. He noted that the normal rotation speed for this maneuver is 60 knots. Upon inspection of the site, heavy wheel marks were discovered approximately 700 feet prior to the fence and ditch, indicating the point where significant braking or loss of control occurred.