On August 15, 1996, a Mooney M20F (registration N9103V) was involved in an aviation accident near Hanover, PA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's delay in aborting the landing. Factors related to the accident were: the lack of braking action on the wet grass runway, the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of airplane, and the sign near the departure end of the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempting to land on runway 09 touched down at a taxiway entrance on a wet grass runway. After applying brakes, he initiated a late go-around, during which the right wing struck a road speed limit sign. The airplane landed 300 feet past the end of the runway.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during an attempted landing on runway 09, the airplane touched down at a taxiway entrance located approximately one-third of the way down from the approach end of the runway. The runway surface was wet grass.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, after touchdown he applied the brakes on the wet grass runway. He then decided to perform a go-around but stated that the decision was made too late. Upon reaching the end of the runway, the pilot lifted off, but the right wing struck a road speed limit sign. This impact damaged the leading edge of the right wing. Following the collision, the pilot landed the airplane approximately 300 feet beyond the runway end.
Pilot Experience
The pilot reported having only about 4 hours of flight time in this specific make and model of airplane.
Damage
The aircraft sustained damage to the leading edge of the right wing as a result of striking the road speed limit sign.