History of Flight
On July 30, 2014, at about 1735 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20L, registration N147MP, was substantially damaged following an aborted landing at Montgomery Field (MYF), San Diego, California. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, and the sole passenger received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal cross-country flight departed San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) about 1630 with MYF as its destination.
The pilot reported that during landing, the airplane bounced, and she attempted a go-around by adding full power, verifying rotation speed, and setting flaps to the takeoff position. After liftoff, she realized the airplane was not climbing normally and the engine seemed underpowered. She informed the tower and prepared for an emergency landing, turning toward a parking lot, but the airplane struck the top of an industrial warehouse building before falling to the ground in a delivery area.
Witness Observations
A witness pilot reported seeing the airplane take off over Runway 28L at very low altitude in a nose-up attitude. It cleared the runway approach lighting by about 25 feet, whereas normally it would have climbed to 500 feet. The airplane continued over Highway 163 in a nose-high attitude but not climbing effectively. Just before reaching trees about 50 to 60 feet high, the nose pitched up abruptly to an estimated 30-degree angle of attack, climbing 100 to 200 feet to clear the trees, then stalled with the left wing dipping. It descended at 200 to 300 feet per minute in a nose-high, left-wing-low attitude and fell toward the southwest. Other witnesses observed a sharp left turn and the airplane clipping a building.
Wreckage and Impact
The accident site survey revealed the airplane first impacted a rooftop air-conditioning unit about 28 feet above ground with its right wing tip, then traveled across the roof for about 40 feet on a heading of 200 degrees, striking a cinder block barrier with the forward undercarriage. Blue paint transfer consistent with the airplane's scheme was found on the barrier. The right main landing gear separated and came to rest about 25 feet away. The right wing then struck a 40-foot light standard. The airplane fell to the pavement, rotated 150 degrees, and came to rest upright on a heading of 350 degrees. A subsequent fire occurred. All necessary components were accounted for.
Examination showed the cockpit throttle was retarded, mixture full rich, gear handle down, flap switch neutral, elevator trim on, and boost pumps off. The right wing was destroyed by impact and fire, the left wing sustained a longitudinal tear and deformation. Control continuity was confirmed for ailerons, elevator, and rudder. The engine had separated from the firewall but remained intact with minimal impact damage and no thermal damage. The propeller stayed attached to the crankshaft; blades #1 and #2 had slight bending, blade #3 was significantly bent forward.
Engine Examination
The engine was tested at Continental Motors, Inc. on December 2, 2014. The propeller governor showed normal operating signatures. The crankshaft end-play was 0.007 inches, flange run-out 0.003 inches. An alternator drive coupling had orange material debris but the coupling itself was intact. The engine started normally, accelerated without hesitation, and produced rated horsepower throughout the test. An oil leak consistent with impact damage was noted.
Propeller Examination
McCauley Propeller Systems examined the propeller on December 4, 2014. No pre-impact failure or malfunction was found. The propeller showed mid-level rotational energy absorption (above windmilling, below full power) during impact. All three blades were in the normal operating angle range (16-40 degrees) at impact. Damage was typical of impact forces with gross deflections; no fatigue was evident.
Go-Around Procedures
The Mooney M20L Pilot's Operating Handbook specifies for a go-around: power to 2343 RPM, flaps to takeoff position (10 degrees), trim as desired, airspeed 75 KIAS, then gear up and flaps up, airspeed 90 KIAS.
Personnel and Aircraft Information
The 52-year-old private pilot had 219 total hours, 164 in type, and a valid third-class medical certificate with corrective lenses requirement. The 1988 Mooney M20L was a single-engine, four-seat airplane with a 280-horsepower Continental IO-550-N-16 engine and a McCauley three-blade propeller. Its most recent annual inspection was June 18, 2014, at 2,555.9 airframe hours and 967.3 engine hours since new. A top overhaul was done on October 9, 2013.