On April 29, 2003, a Mooney M20E (registration N201EZ) was involved in an aviation accident near Milledgeville, GA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during climbout which resulted in a low altitude stall and subsequent in-flight collision with the terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot returning for annual inspection performed a soft field takeoff due to landing gear concerns. Witnesses observed a steep left bank at low altitude before the aircraft collided with the ground.
Incident Summary
The flight was intended to return the aircraft to the repair station where the annual inspection had been completed. The pilot had previously reported issues with the landing gear and strut during takeoffs and landings. Based on those concerns, the pilot chose to perform a soft field takeoff from runway 10 at Baldwin County Airport.
Witness Observations
A witness at the airport first heard the aircraft in the runup area. The witness then observed it climbing from the runway. The aircraft was seen at approximately 50 feet above ground level in a nose-high attitude and a left bank of about 60 degrees. The bank angle continued to increase, and when the left wingtip reached a 90-degree bank, the aircraft collided with the ground. After impact, it spun across the ground and came to rest in a tree line to the left of runway 10.
Aircraft Damage and Pilot Report
Examination after the accident revealed that both wings were bent at the spars, and the nose section forward of the firewall was displaced to the left. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the aircraft during the takeoff and initial climb.