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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

September 30, 1983 · Mooney M20F · N3280F

La Junta, CO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 30, 1983
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
La Junta, CO
Aircraft
Mooney M20F
Tail Number
N3280F
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN83LA225

The aircraft stalled into the ground during a takeoff in windy conditions. The winds were reported to be from 210 degrees at 22 kts gusting to 28 kts. The pilot received a weather briefing from the FSS and knew a strong crosswind from the left was present. He used rudder but no aileron during takeoff. He said the aircraft lifted off at 70 mph and at 10 ft in the air 'a gust or shear' hit the aircraft. The plane turned 90 degrees to the left, lost airspeed, and settled to the ground. The left wing made ground contact first. The aircraft slid across a ditch and came to rest 60 ft from the south edge of the runway. The FAA flight training handbook states that full aileron should be held into the wind as takeoff starts. This position is held until sufficient airspeed is obtained and then used as required to keep wings level. Takeoff power created torque or P-factor which yaws the aircraft to the left, and a wind from the left may aggravate the left turning tendency.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT STALLED INTO THE GROUND DURING A TAKEOFF IN WINDY CONDITIONS. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 210 DEGREES AT 22 KTS GUSTING TO 28 KTS. THE PLT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE FSS AND KNEW A STRONG CROSSWIND FROM THE LEFT WAS PRESENT. HE USED RUDDER BUT NO AILERON DURING TAKEOFF. HE SAID THE ACFT LIFTED OFF AT 70 MPH AND AT 10 FT IN THE AIR'A GUST OR SHEAR' HIT THE ACFT. THE PLANE TURNED 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, LOST AIRSPEED AND SETTLED TO THE GROUND. THE LEFT WING MADE GROUND CONTACT FIRST. THE ACFT SLID ACROSS A DITCH AND CAME TO REST 60 FT FROM THE SOUTH EDGE OF THE RWY.THE FAA FLT TRAINING HANDBOOK STATES THAT FULL AILERON SHOULD BE HELD INTO THE WIND AS TAKEOFF STARTS. THIS POSITION IS HELD UNTIL SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED IS OBTAINED AND THEN USED AS REQUIRED TO KEEP WINGS LEVEL. TAKEOFF POWER CREATED TORQUE OR P-FACTOR WHICH YAWS THE ACFT TO THE LEFT AND A WIND FROM THE LEFT MAY AGGREVATE THE LEFT TURNING TENDENCY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:24 MDT
Nearest AirportLa Junta Municipal (0nm N)
Runway26
Runway Length6844 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20F
Tail NumberN3280F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 32 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNr
Wind210° @ 22 kt, gusting 28 kt
Visibility35 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time19:24
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data