No fatalities

17 Feb 2011: MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20K — FOLK DANIEL H — Urbana, IL

Urbana, IL, United States

On 17 Feb 2011, a MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20K operated by FOLK DANIEL H was involved in an aviation accident near Urbana, IL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the go-around. 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 pilot executed a go-around after ballooning during landing flare, but the left wing contacted terrain. The airplane sustained damage to firewall, fuselage, and both wings; no preimpact mechanical issues were found.

Flight Planning and Approach

Before departure, the pilot contacted the destination airport's fixed base operator to inquire about local wind conditions. The pilot had planned to divert to an alternate airport if crosswinds were too strong. During the final approach to the destination airport, the airplane encountered turbulent winds.

The Accident Sequence

As the airplane flared for landing, it ballooned, prompting the pilot to execute a go-around. During the attempted go-around, the left wing contacted terrain, and the airplane came to rest upright adjacent to a residence.

Aircraft Damage and Examination

The accident sequence resulted in damage to the firewall, fuselage, and both wings. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Conclusion

The investigation determined that the airplane encountered turbulent winds during final approach, leading to a ballooned landing flare and subsequent go-around. The left wing struck terrain during the go-around, causing structural damage. No preimpact mechanical issues were identified.

Contributing factors

Pilot