Accident Summary
On March 26, 2016, at approximately 16:18 Japan Standard Time, a privately owned Mooney M20C, registered JA3788, crashed during a go-around at Yao Airport in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The aircraft bounced while landing on Runway 27 and attempted a go-around. During the climb, it stalled, entered a spin, and impacted the south side shoulder of the runway. A captain and three passengers were on board; all four sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed and a fire erupted.
Flight History
The flight on the day of the accident originated from Kohnan Airport at 11:00 JST for a familiarization flight. The aircraft landed at Yao Airport at 12:00 and refueled. Subsequently, it departed Yao Airport at 14:31 with the captain in the right pilot seat, passenger C in the left pilot seat, and passengers B and A in the rear seats, landing at Kobe Airport at 14:43. The aircraft then departed Kobe Airport at 16:03 for Yao Airport, with the captain in the right pilot seat, passenger A in the left pilot seat, and passengers B and C in the rear seats. The flight plan was filed under visual flight rules (VFR) with an estimated off-block time of 15:55, a cruising speed of 100 knots, and an endurance of 4 hours.
Communication records indicate that the aircraft contacted Yao Tower at 16:11:54 requesting landing information. At 16:14:30, it reported entering the left down-wind leg, and Yao Tower issued landing clearance with wind information (270° at 6 knots). At 16:16:41, Yao Tower broadcast updated wind (280° at 5 knots). At 16:18:09, the aircraft transmitted a blind transmission stating "Going around, Juliet Alfa Three Seven Eight Eight" over approximately 1.8 seconds.
Witness Observations
Yao Tower personnel observed the aircraft touch down at low speed, then float, lower its body, and refloat. The aircraft reported a go-around in front of the tower. The nose-up attitude increased until the upper surface of the fuselage became visible, and the aircraft stalled, crashing straight down. Eyewitness A, an airport staff member, saw the aircraft with a large nose-up posture and abnormally slow speed. The aircraft returned to level, descended, staggered, turned left quickly, entered a spin, and crashed. Two impact sounds were heard, followed by flames. The maximum altitude was about 100 feet.
Eyewitness B, another staff member, saw the aircraft at a large nose-up attitude, obviously slow. The aircraft returned to level, sank, then spun from the left wing and dove almost upside down. Engine sounds were at high power. The maximum altitude was between 30 and 40 meters, with an angle of attack of approximately 30 degrees. A fire broke out between the right wing base and cabin. Eyewitness C, an instructor for the three passengers, saw the aircraft in an abnormally large nose-up posture just before the stall, then it rolled left and fell nose-first.
Aircraft and Weight Information
The aircraft, a Mooney M20C, was privately owned. The investigation noted that the aircraft was overweight and had an aft center of gravity (CG) location beyond the aft limit corresponding to the maximum weight. These conditions likely affected controllability and stability, contributing to the bounce on touchdown, abnormal nose-up posture during the go-around, decreased stability at low speed, and the occurrence of stall and spin.
Probable Causes
The Japan Transport Safety Board determined that the aircraft bounced while landing and attempted a go-around. It made an abnormal nose-up continued and decelerated, and the stall could not be avoided in a situation where it was imminent. Consequently, it is highly probable that it stalled and went into spin, and finally crashed. The investigation was unable to determine why the stall could not be avoided, as all occupants were fatally injured. It is somewhat likely that the captain or passenger A, who was maneuvering, could not suppress the excessive nose-up movement because it exceeded the maneuverable range.