What happened
On 8 May 2005, a Mooney M20J, registration N61MF, was returning to Fairoaks Airport following a flight from Cherbourg. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and three passengers on a private flight. During the initial approach to Runway 24, the pilot performed a go-around due to dissatisfaction with the aircraft's positioning over the threshold.
Upon attempting a second approach, the aircraft maintained an approach speed of 80 kt IAS. Although the approach appeared standard, the aircraft continued to float above the runway surface after the flare, eventually making contact with the pavement near the runway midpoint. Recognizing that the remaining runway distance was insufficient to stop, the pilot initiated a baulked landing by applying maximum power. However, the aircraft did not stop before exiting the runway, clearing the airfield boundary fence and striking a grass field and a wooden fence. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the engine, propeller, and airframe. All four persons on board sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's configuration, and the environmental conditions at Fairoaks. The runway was wet following a recent rain shower, and the available landing distance for Runway 24 was 800 metres. The investigation established that the pilot had not yet retracted the landing gear or flaps when the decision to execute the baulked landing was made. The pilot noted that the aircraft's low-drag design makes it prone to prolonged floating if the approach speed is excessive.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was an excessive approach speed, estimated by the pilot to be between 5 and 10 kt above the target speed.
- A potential contributing factor was the pilot's recent experience flying a different aircraft type with higher approach speeds.
- A slight tailwind component may have also contributed to the increased ground speed.
- The pilot's decision to attempt a baulked landing, rather than accepting a low-speed overrun, left insufficient distance to stop the aircraft before the airfield boundary.