History of Flight
On July 4, 2015, about 0810 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20E, registration N5608Q, collided with terrain following an aborted landing and attempted go-around at McNary Field (SLE), Salem, Oregon. The private pilot, the sole occupant and part owner of the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage from impact forces and a postcrash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot had departed SLE about an hour before the accident on a local flight.
Witness Accounts
The tower controller reported that just after 0800, the pilot called inbound from the south and was cleared to land on runway 34. The approach appeared normal, with the landing gear down and in place. The airplane came down 10 to 20 feet above the aiming point but continued to float about 10 feet above the runway for the next 1,000 feet. At midfield, the airplane began a shallow climb at low airspeed, reaching about 100 feet above ground level (AGL) by the departure end of runway 34. It then initiated a left turn, lost control, and impacted terrain.
A second witness at the southeast corner of the airport observed the approach from the south, noting normal throttle reduction during descent. He heard the wheels touch down, then saw the tail dip and nose pitch up, followed by ballooning oscillations. The third oscillation was most severe, with the airplane descending nose-first onto the runway, producing a metallic thud, then bouncing about 6 to 8 feet into the air. He then heard the engine come back, sounding low RPM and rough, but the pilot regained control and flew about 10 to 12 feet above the runway.
A third witness saw the airplane in a shallow climb at low airspeed, reaching about 100 feet AGL with landing gear and flaps retracted. The engine sounded low RPM and misfiring. The airplane then made a gradual left turn, increasing its left bank angle as if attempting to return to the runway, before impacting terrain and cartwheeling onto its left side.
Personnel and Aircraft Information
The pilot, aged 60, held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument ratings. A third-class medical was issued on April 16, 2015, with the limitation "Must wear corrective lenses." The pilot reported 250 total flight hours at the time of his last medical application, though a 2007 application listed 500 hours. His logbook was not found; his most recent flight review was June 24, 2014, and instrument proficiency check was May 4, 2015.
The Mooney M20E, serial number 660, was manufactured in 1965. It was a four-seat, low-wing, retractable gear airplane powered by a Lycoming IO-360-A1A engine (200 hp) with a McCauley constant speed propeller. The last annual inspection was June 4, 2015, at tach time 406.7 hours and total airframe time 2,799.1 hours.
Meteorological Information
At 0756, SLE's automated observation reported wind 300° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear sky, temperature 20°C, dew point 10°C, and altimeter 29.88 inHg.
Wreckage and Impact
The wreckage was confined to an area 72 ft by 48 ft, about 100 yards northeast of the departure end of runway 31. All necessary components were present. Flight control continuity was established; engine control continuity was not due to fire damage. The throttle was in an idle position, mixture and propeller controls were full rich and high RPM. Landing gear appeared retracted. All flight instruments were fire-damaged and unreadable.
The forward fuselage and cabin were severely fire-damaged. The right wing was intact with a 2x4 ft fire-damaged area near the fuselage and compression damage along the leading edge, more severe toward the wingtip. The left wing had three major fractures, with the leading edge crumpled and bent, and part of the wing partially detached. Fuel recovered: 8 gallons from left wing, 3 gallons from right wing, bluish color consistent with 100LL. The empennage was largely separated aft of the cabin, attached only by sheet metal; control surfaces had crushing damage.
Medical and Pathological Information
A postmortem examination by the Marion County medical examiner on July 5, 2015, determined the cause of death as blunt force trauma. FAA toxicology detected no drugs of abuse.
Airframe and Engine Examination
On August 20, 2015, NTSB-supervised examinations were conducted. The airframe revealed no anomalies precluding normal operation. Landing gear was retracted; flap position indeterminable due to hydraulic bleed down. The right wing showed compression crushing; left flap and aileron detached. Empennage mostly intact; longitudinal trim setting was approximately takeoff trim. The Johnson bar was broken and loose.
Engine examination: The Lycoming IO-360-A1A (serial RL-31540-51E) remained intact with thermal damage to accessories. Crankshaft rotated by hand; continuity established in engine and valve train. Thumb compression on cylinders 1, 3, and 4; cylinder 2 had impact damage preventing compression. Fuel injector nozzles clear; fuel pump operational; fuel servo broken from engine. Right magneto produced sparks; left magneto had thermal damage and resistance, no visible spark. Top spark plugs exhibited normal wear. Throttle body fractured at mount; oil pickup screen clear. Propeller blades displayed leading edge gouges, twisting, and chordwise scarring; one blade detached, others bent.