Accident Overview
On June 4, 2011, at 1030 central daylight time, a Mooney M20R, registration N5816P, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Lake in the Hills Airport (3CK) in Lake in the Hills, Illinois. The private pilot and his flight instructor were uninjured. The airplane was operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 on a local instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (KJVL) in Janesville, Wisconsin, at 1015.
Flight Crew Accounts
According to the pilot, he was attempting a simulated forced landing when the accident occurred. The airplane bounced on touchdown, and he responded by advancing engine power to abort the landing. However, he was unable to establish a climb as the airplane drifted left off the runway and down an embankment. After the bounce, he relinquished control to the flight instructor, who also could not regain control.
The flight instructor reported that the pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was receiving instruction to become more comfortable with it. At the end of the instructional flight, the instructor asked the pilot to demonstrate a simulated forced landing to runway 26. As the airplane crossed midfield on the downwind leg, the pilot reduced engine power to idle and established best glide airspeed while maneuvering from base to final approach. After crossing the runway threshold, the pilot began the landing flare above ground effect and abruptly pulled the control yoke aft, unintentionally inducing an aerodynamic stall. The pilot increased engine power, but the airplane landed hard on the main landing gear in a nose-high attitude. The nose wheel then struck the runway, causing a porpoising effect. The instructor noted it was the hardest landing he had ever experienced. The airplane began to veer left due to the high engine power setting. Despite both pilots applying full right rudder, they could not regain directional control. As they unsuccessfully attempted to rotate for an aborted landing, the airplane departed the left side of the runway into a grassy area and proceeded down an embankment into a construction site.
Aircraft Damage and Inspection
During the event, the fuselage, firewall, and both wings were substantially damaged. A postaccident inspection found no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather Information
The nearest aviation weather observation station with recorded historical weather was DuPage Airport (KDPA), about 21.5 miles south of the accident site. At 1052, the KDPA automated surface observing system reported wind from 260 degrees at 8 knots, gusting to 14 knots; visibility 8 miles; clear sky; temperature 31°C; dew point 21°C; and an altimeter setting of 30.02 inches of mercury.