History of Flight
On September 8, 2008, at approximately 1630 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20J, registration N301KC, was substantially damaged during an emergency landing shortly after takeoff from runway 23 at Hackettstown Airport (N05), Hackettstown, New Jersey. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. The positioning flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions; no flight plan was filed.
The pilot, an aircraft broker, was repositioning the airplane for the owner from Essex County Airport (CDW) to another airport for a potential sale. He did not add fuel at CDW but performed fuel drains prior to departure, observing no water. The flight to Sky Manor Airport (N40) was uneventful, where he picked up an acquaintance, then flew to N05. After arrival, the passenger departed in another aircraft. The pilot then added 21.6 gallons of fuel to the right wing tank from the self-service facility, with the airplane in a nose-down attitude. He sampled the right tank and drained the gascolator via cockpit control but did not capture the gascolator sample.
Engine start and taxi were normal. After taxiing to runway 23, the pilot performed an engine run-up with the fuel selector on the right tank. The takeoff roll and initial climb were normal, but at approximately 25 feet above ground level, the engine lost power completely. The pilot attempted a left turn to a crossing runway but lacked altitude and airspeed, so he leveled the wings and touched down in grass left of the runway, applying heavy braking. The airplane struck trees and shrubs bordering the airport and came to a stop.
Post-accident, the pilot sampled the gascolator and wing tank drains. He reported capturing approximately 1 to 1.5 inches of water from the gascolator and two cupfuls of water from the right tank, with no water from the left tank.
Aircraft Information
The Mooney M20J was a low-wing, all-metal monoplane equipped with a Lycoming IO-360 four-cylinder engine, constant-speed propeller, and retractable tricycle landing gear. Manufactured in 1978, it had about 2,760 total hours at the time of the accident. The most recent annual inspection was in December 2007. The fuel system included two integral wing tanks with a total usable capacity of 64 gallons, a fuel selector valve, gascolator, boost pump, engine-driven pump, and fuel injector system. Each tank had a sump drain at the lowest point, and the gascolator had a cockpit-activated drain.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with single- and multi-engine land ratings and approximately 4,000 total flight hours. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in March 2007. The airplane owner did not request details of the pilot's experience, relying on a recommendation from a Mooney sales company. The NTSB could not determine the pilot's experience in the accident make and model due to non-cooperation.
Wreckage and Impact
The airplane came to rest upright against a treeline about 100 feet beyond the runway end and offset 100 feet southeast of the centerline. All landing gear remained intact. The outboard 2 feet of the left wing were fractured and separated, with crushing aft and up. The right wing had three crush damage sites at the leading edge. The aft fuselage sustained buckling damage, and the propeller spinner was crushed aft. No fire occurred.
Meteorological Information
Weather observations at Aeroflex-Andover Airport (12N), 13 miles northeast of N05, at 1554 reported variable winds at 6 knots gusting to 16 knots, temperature 27°C, dew point 11°C, and altimeter 30.12 inHg. Conditions at 1654 were similar.
Additional Observations
An FAA inspector examined the site the following morning. The ELT did not activate; its battery expiration date was unclear. The inspector noted a sheared vacuum pump shaft, which the owner said was pre-existing. The inspector obtained a fuel sample from the gascolator with the selector on right tank; it contained primarily fuel with a trace of water. The fuel line from the gascolator to the fuel servo contained only water. No mechanical anomalies were found in the engine.
The airport fuel storage tank held 5,000 gallons of 100LL avgas. The FAA inspector sampled the tank and found no water. The airport owner stated he tested fuel daily but kept no records. The fuel dispensing system had a particulate filter but no water-separating capability.
Probable Cause
The NTSB report did not provide a stated probable cause.