On July 29, 2007, a Mooney M20E (registration N9302M) was involved in an aviation accident near Tonasket, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during initial climb following an aborted landing that resulted in a stall/spin. The pilot's misjudged speed and distance that resulted in a failure to attain a proper touchdown point was a factor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane on a night visual approach touched down beyond the runway midpoint, then accelerated and became airborne before rolling left and impacting terrain about 0.25 miles off the departure end at 250 feet agl. No mechanical anomaly was found; toxicology detected diphenhydramine.
Accident Sequence
A pilot conducted a night visual approach to a 3,053-foot-long runway intended as the destination. A witness located approximately 50 feet from the runway reported that the airplane approached from the south and touched down well beyond the midpoint of the runway. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane accelerated and became airborne again. About 0.25 miles past the departure end of the runway, at an estimated altitude of 250 feet above ground level (agl), the airplane rolled left and impacted terrain in a nose-low attitude. The accident occurred approximately 28 minutes after sunset.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of a mechanical anomaly or failure. Toxicological samples from the pilot's blood detected diphenhydramine (a sedating antihistamine commonly known by the trade name Benadryl) at a level consistent with recent use. Diphenhydramine is used over-the-counter for allergies and as a sleep aid, and has been shown to impair the performance of complex cognitive and motor tasks at typical doses.