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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

April 21, 1995 · Mooney M20K · N252DX

Marshfield, MA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 21, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Marshfield, MA
Aircraft
Mooney M20K
Tail Number
N252DX
Operator
William H Eilberg
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC95LA091

THE PILOT HAD LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON RUNWAY 6. HE STATED, 'I FLARED FOR LANDING, BUT THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED, POSSIBLY DUE TO WIND SHIFTING.' THE REPORTED WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE 140 DEGREES, AT 12 KNOTS. THE PILOT ELECTED TO GO AROUND, AND APPLIED POWER TO THE ENGINE. HE STATED, 'THE ENGINE NEVER DEVELOPED TAKE-OFF POWER. IT CONTINUED TO FLY CLOSE TO THE GROUND. SINCE THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP, I DID NOT BELIEVE IT HAD FAILED.' THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT TWISTED THE VERNIER THROTTLE, BUT DID NOT REACH FULL THROTTLE. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCIES. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN A MARSH, NEAR THE RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot misjudged the flare, resulting in a bounced landing and impact with the terrain. A factor in this accident was an improper recovery from a bounced landing.

Full Narrative

On April 21, 1995, about 1433 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20K, N252DX, piloted by William H. Eilberg, collided with the terrain while landing at Marshfield Municipal Airport, Marshfield, Massachusetts. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 6. He stated, "I flared for landing, but the aircraft bounced, possibly due to the wind shifting." The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 140 degrees at 12 knots. After the airplane bounced, the pilot elected to go around, and he applied power to the engine. According to the pilot's written statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2: ...the engine never developed take-off power. It continued to fly close to the ground. Since the engine did not stop, I did not believe it had failed, but kept trying to get maximum power. The aircraft impacted a marsh, near the runway, in [a] level attitude. According to the FAA Inspector's statement, the throttle on N252DX was a vernier type (twist for fine tuning). The inspector wrote that the pilot stated, "...he was unable to recover from a bounced landing...." The pilot stated to the FAA Inspector, "...he added power by twisting the throttle control knob in and observing the manifold pressure gauge." The FAA Inspector's statement states: At that time Mr. Eilberg lost control of the aircraft, drifted to the left and impacted trees in a swamp area. I then asked Mr. Eilberg why he had not advanced the throttle by pushing the throttle in full. [He] stated when he had purchased the aircraft and was receiving instruction from a flight instructor, he was told not to advance the throttle by pushing it in full. He was told to twist the vernier controlled throttle control in and monitor the manifold pressure gauge, to do other wise would result in engine damage.... The FAA did a cursory examination of the engine and did not find any discrepancies.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:33 EDT
Nearest AirportMarshfield Municipal (0nm)
Runway6
Runway Length2999 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20K
Tail NumberN252DX
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWilliam H Eilberg
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-MB4B · Reciprocating · 210
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 43 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 12 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data