No fatalities

16 Mar 2013: MOONEY M20J — Robert Waite — Springfield, TN

Springfield, TN, United States

On 16 Mar 2013, a MOONEY M20J operated by Robert Waite was involved in an aviation accident near Springfield, TN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while landing in gusting wind conditions. 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

During a third landing in gusty winds, the airplane yawed, rolled left, struck the ground, and slid into a hangar and fuel pump. No mechanical anomalies were reported.

Accident Details

The pilot, who reported 4,900 total flight hours but only 97 hours in the accident airplane (the remainder in helicopters), initially completed two touch-and-go landings. According to the pilot and a pilot-rated passenger, winds were from directly down the runway at 14 knots, gusting to 22 knots.

Third Landing Sequence

During the third landing attempt, as the airplane approached the touchdown point, it yawed 30 to 45 degrees to the right, then back to the left of the centerline. The airplane subsequently rolled to the left, and the left wing tip impacted the ground. The pilot added full power, but the airplane continued to the left. The pilot then reduced power, and the airplane settled into the grass. It skidded across a ramp and impacted a hangar and a fuel pump.

Damage Assessment

Photographs revealed substantial damage to the outboard leading edge of the left wing and a left-arcing runway scrape mark leading toward the hangar. Once the airplane came to rest, only the outboard portion of the right wing and the nose had impacted structures. The pilot did not report any preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome