No fatalities

7 Mar 2020: Mooney M20K No Series — New Orleans, LA

New Orleans, LA, United States

On 7 Mar 2020, a Mooney M20K No Series was involved in an aviation accident near New Orleans, LA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper decision to turn the airplane from the runway onto the taxiway at an excessive speed, which resulted in a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and collision with a taxiway sign. 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

A pilot reported that after a tower controller requested speed and a close approach, the airplane exited the runway during landing rollout at night, hitting a taxiway sign and sustaining substantial left wing damage.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that during a night landing, the tower controller requested that he "keep up the speed" and execute a "close approach" before landing. During the landing rollout, the pilot attempted to exit the runway at an excessive speed. The airplane then "began to tilt to the right," according to the pilot. He tried to steer the airplane back onto the runway, but the airplane exited the runway and collided with a taxiway sign.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing as a result of the collision with the taxiway sign.

Pilot Account

The pilot stated that the tower controller's request for speed and a close approach preceded the landing. The pilot's attempt to exit the runway during rollout was made at an excessive speed, leading to a loss of directional control and the subsequent runway excursion.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedSurface speed/braking — Not attained/maintainedEffect on operation

Other contributing factors

Effect on personnel