Accident Sequence
On December 26, 2021, at 1104 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20J, N3707H, sustained substantial damage when it crashed in Jacksonville, Florida. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to ADS-B tracking data, the airplane departed Herlong Recreational Airport (HEG) around 1041 for a local flight north. It returned and entered the left base leg of the traffic pattern for runway 25 about 1101.
Witness Observations
A witness at the airport observed the airplane flying over the runway. It appeared to be flying slowly with a very high angle of attack. The nose then lowered, and the engine rpm decreased slightly before increasing again. The engine sounded normal and did not sputter. The airplane seemed to be barely climbing. When it reached about three-quarters down the runway, the landing gear retracted and the baggage door opened upward. The door remained open, resembling a sail. After the door opened, the airplane did not climb further and drifted slightly right before the witness lost sight behind a tree line.
Another pilot in the HEG traffic pattern saw the airplane fly past the departure end of the runway. It appeared as a normal departure along the extended centerline. At about 200-400 ft above ground level, the right wing dropped and the airplane appeared to enter a spin. The attitude was almost vertical, and it continued spinning or spiraling until impact.
Aircraft Examination
Examination of the accident scene revealed no debris path or ground scars near the wreckage. The airplane came to rest upright in a grass field, oriented on a heading of 287° true, about half a nautical mile from the departure end of runway 25 and about 400 ft right of the extended centerline. The fuselage from just forward of the horizontal stabilizer to the engine cowling was largely consumed by fire. Both wings remained largely intact with leading edge crush damage and significant fire damage from the root to outboard edge of the flaps. The flap actuator jackscrew position was consistent with flaps extended to the 15° (takeoff) setting. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the left aileron to the left wing root area, and from the right wing root area through the impact-damaged bell crank and an overload fracture of the push-pull tube. Continuity was established for elevator and rudder controls to the rear seat area. The fractured pitch trim torque tube was found at or near the takeoff setting. The three landing gear remnants were found in the retracted positions.
The baggage door piano hinge remained mostly intact and partially attached. About 2 inches of aluminum structure remained on either side of the hinge. The latching mechanism was largely intact but fire-damaged, with no door structure attached. The lock cylinder and exterior latch handle were not found; silver/grey molten metal remained on the center section. Both engagement rods remained intact, but the fuselage fittings for the rod ends were not found.
Engine Examination
The propeller hub remained attached to the engine crankshaft flange, partially buried in soft soil. One propeller blade remained attached, undamaged except for loose snap rings and shims. The other blade was separated, bent slightly forward, and showed abrasion along the leading edge. Radial score marks on the starter drive housing were consistent with starter ring gear rotation. The crankshaft rotated smoothly with no binding. Valvetrain and crankshaft continuity were confirmed, and thumb compression and suction were obtained on each cylinder. The oil suction screen was debris-free. The oil filter was fire-damaged with a charred internal element but no metallic debris. Spark plug electrodes appeared worn-normal. The single-drive dual magneto was separated and fire-damaged, preventing testing. The engine-driven fuel pump was also separated and partially melted, precluding testing. All four fuel injector nozzles were unobstructed. The turbocharger inlet and exhaust tubing were partially crushed; the shaft spun freely, and no damage was found on compressor or turbine blades.
Pilot Information
The pilot reported a total of 422 hours of flight experience during his last aviation medical examination on June 15, 2021. His logbook was not located.