No fatalities

2 Jul 2009: MOONEY M20 — WAYNE LEMLEY — Steamboat Springs, CO

Steamboat Springs, CO, United States

On 2 Jul 2009, a MOONEY M20 operated by WAYNE LEMLEY was involved in an aviation accident near Steamboat Springs, CO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper pitch control during the go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot performed a touch-and-go landing, then encountered a stall after reducing power for landing, leading to a hard landing and bounce. During the subsequent go-around, a second stall occurred, resulting in substantial damage but no injuries.

Accident Sequence

A private pilot, prior to departing on a 108-nautical mile cross-country flight, remained in the traffic pattern for one touch-and-go landing. During the subsequent approach, the airplane was flown at a slower than normal speed on the downwind and base legs. The airplane crossed 30 feet above the runway "numbers" at an airspeed of 67 to 68 knots. The pilot then reduced engine power for landing, and the airplane stalled at approximately 7 to 10 feet above the runway.

Following the stall, the airplane experienced a hard landing and bounced back into the air. The pilot elected to perform a go-around. He selected full power and pulled back on the yoke to avoid nose wheel contact with the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane became airborne but at a slower than normal airspeed. At approximately 10 to 20 feet above the runway, the airplane entered a second stall, rolled left, and impacted terrain.

Damage and Injuries

The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot and two passengers were not injured.

Inspection

A post-accident inspection revealed no pre-impact anomalies.

Contributing factors

Angle of attack — Not attained/maintainedPilot