History of Flight
On March 26, 2018, about 1053 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20E airplane, N213EJ, was destroyed when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from runway 29 at Marina Municipal Airport (OAR), Marina, California. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI), Watsonville, California, about 15 miles north of OAR.
According to WVI operations personnel, the pilot arrived at the airport about 0954 and requested a fuel top-off for his airplane. The airplane was serviced with 25.4 gallons of fuel. A WVI surveillance camera recorded the airplane departing runway 20 at 1035:54.
The airplane landed at OAR. No radio communications were recorded at WVI, en route, or OAR. Two witnesses observed the takeoff before the accident. One witness, located about midfield, reported that the landing gear retracted immediately after liftoff. Both witnesses reported an unusually steep climb in an unusually high nose-up attitude. The airplane then pitched over to an approximately level attitude and began to yaw left. During the yaw, the nose and left wing dropped, and the airplane entered a spin.
The airplane spun to the ground, and a fire erupted immediately. A surveillance camera mounted on a building near the southwest corner of the airport captured the final descent. The airplane appeared on a descending flight path with an approximate 15° nose-down pitch attitude, which steepened to near vertical. The elapsed time from first appearance to impact was about 3.5 seconds.
Personnel Information
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records indicated that the pilot, age 85, held a private pilot certificate with an instrument-airplane rating. Review of the pilot's logbook revealed a total flight experience of about 2,650 hours. He ceased flying in mid-2014 due to a family illness and resumed in August 2017. The logbook indicated about 22.6 hours since then, all in the accident airplane, including 8.1 hours of dual instruction with a flight instructor. The instructor owned and operated a similar Mooney M20E. The instructor noted that the pilot was initially "rusty" but regained proficiency. The pilot preferred full-stop landings and did not conduct touch-and-go landings.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 1965 and equipped with a Lycoming IO-360 series engine. The pilot purchased it in 1990. The most recent annual inspection was completed on September 22, 2017, at which time the airframe had about 3,517 hours total time and the engine about 792 hours. The airplane was not approved for intentional spins.
The M20E features a manual landing gear retraction system activated by a lever between the front seats. The pitch trim is controlled by a handwheel on the cockpit floor. Flaps are manual hydraulic. According to the owner's manual, takeoff is accomplished by applying back pressure at 65-75 mph, resulting in a nose-high attitude until back pressure is released. Best angle climb speed is 94 mph, best rate of climb speed is 113 mph. Stall speeds with zero flaps are 67 mph, half flaps 64 mph, full flaps 57 mph.
The pilot's seat was mounted on rails with a locking pin mechanism. Several factors could result in improper pin engagement and seat slippage. According to a Mooney representative, an unlatched seat could move fully aft until stopped by a pin, and during impact could travel forward.
Meteorological Information
The 1054 automated weather observation at Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), 7 miles southwest of OAR, included wind from 110° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 6°C, dew point 4°C, and altimeter 30.16 inches of mercury. A pilot/witness at OAR reported wind from about 260° to 270° at about 10 knots.
Airport Information
Marina Municipal Airport (OAR) has runway 29. The accident occurred just southwest of the intersection of runway 29 and taxiway C, about 300 ft from the runway centerline. The impact site was on a flat grassy area between the runway and a parallel taxiway.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane impacted in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude and came to rest upright. Ground scars included a small crater from the propeller and engine and two shallow impressions from wing leading edges. The wreckage was primarily confined to an area slightly larger than the airplane. Significant portions of the cockpit and cabin were heavily damaged or consumed by fire. All major components were accounted for.
Both wings had full-span leading edge crush damage aft. Flight control continuity was confirmed in all three axes, including pitch trim. The pitch trim was found in the takeoff position. The flap setting at impact could not be determined. The landing gear was retracted. No evidence of pre-impact mechanical deficiencies or failures that would have precluded continued operation was observed. The pilot's seat was found with the locking pin in the 5th hole from the front of the track (out of seven holes).
Medical and Pathological Information
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office autopsy report indicated the cause of death as multiple blunt force trauma. Forensic toxicology tests for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and drugs were all negative.