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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 25, 1994 · Mooney M20J · N4780H

Muscle Shoals, AL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 25, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Muscle Shoals, AL
Aircraft
Mooney M20J
Tail Number
N4780H
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL94LA070

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ENGINE DID NOT PRODUCE FULL POWER DURING TAKEOFf. A LONGER THAN NORMAL TAKE OFF ROLL OCCURRED, WHICH USED OVER HALF OF THE 4,000 FOOT LONG RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE POWER OUTPUT DECREASED AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY ENTERED A DOWNWIND AND RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY, AT LOW LEVEL. ON FINAL APPROACH, PRIOR TO REACHING THE RUNWAY, THE LEFT WING HIT THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS FOUND LOOSE, WHICH PREVENTED OBTAINING FULL POWER. AN ENTRY IN THE AIRCRAFT LOG INDICATED THAT AN ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD BEEN PERFORMED THE PREVIOUS DAY. THE ENGINE LOG ALSO CONTAINED AN ENTRY INDICATING A 100 HOUR INSPECTION HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THE PREVIOUS DAY.

NTSB Probable Cause

WAS THE LOOSE THROTTLE CABLE, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE DID NOT PRODUCE FULL POWER. A FACTOR WAS THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE.

Full Narrative

On March 25, 1994, about 1430 central standard time, a Mooney M20J, N4780H, collided with the ground during a forced landing. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There were no injuries to the private pilot nor the passenger, and the airplane was substantially damaged. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the personal flight to Tallahassee, Florida. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The takeoff from runway 36 was observed by a Flight Service Station specialist, who stated that the takeoff roll was unusually long, using over half of the 4,000 foot long runway, and that the engine did not sound as if full power had been achieved. After becoming airborne, the landing gear remained extended. A right downwind turn was made and the airplane proceeded back to the departure runway, at low level. Prior to reaching the runway, the airplane struck the ground with the left wing, east of the approach end of runway 36, and cartwheeled. An inspector from the Alabama Flight Standards District Office, Birmingham, Alabama, examined the wreckage. He reported that the throttle cable was loose. An entry in the aircraft log and the engine log indicated that an annual and a 100 hour inspection, respectively, had been performed on the previous day.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 CST
Nearest AirportMuscle Shoals (90nm N)
Runway36
Runway Length4000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20J
Tail NumberN4780H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A3B6D · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 71 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind350° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 37 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data