COOPERSTOWN, NY, USA
N5817P
MOONEY M20J
THE PILOT MADE THREE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO LAND ON RUNWAY 2. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT ON THE FOURTH LANDING, THE PILOT LANDED LONG WITH ABOUT 500 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING. HE STATED THAT THE PILOT TRIED TO GO AROUND WITH 30 FEET OF RUNWAY LEFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS LAST APPROACH APPEARED TO BE SATISFACTORY, AS HIS AIRSPEED WAS 70 KNOTS AND HE TOUCHED DOWN 1/4 WAY DOWN THE 2300 FOOT GRASS RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT HE RAISED HIS FLAPS, APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO SKID. HE REPORTED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND, BUT HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH AIRSPEED; HE RAISED THE NOSE TO CLEAR TERRAIN, AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED, IMPACTED THE GROUND AND EXITED ONTO A ROAD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION,AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD ABORTED THE LANDING AND DIVERTED TO ANOTHER AIRPORT WITH BETTER CONDITIONS.
On Monday, July 19, 1993, at about 1400 eastern daylight time, N5817P, a Mooney M20J, operated by K L I Aero Services Inc. of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, and piloted by Gary Wolf of Lauderhill, Florida, crashed during landing at Cooperstown Westville Airport, Cooperstown, New York. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91 and originated in Albany, New York. The pilot made three unsuccessful attempts to land on runway 2. A witness reported that the pilot landed long with about 500 feet of runway remaining. He also stated that the pilot with 30 feet of runway remaining tried to go around. The pilot stated that his last approach seemed to be satisfactory. He stated that his airspeed was 70 knots and he touched down 1/4 way down the runway. "Raised flaps, applied brakes. Plane continued down runway skidding and locked brakes. When end of runway in view, attempted go- around. Unable to obtain speed...lowered nose to gain speed and then raised to avoid terrain. Stalled and dropped." The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction and the accident could have been prevented if he had aborted the landing and diverted to an alternate airport with better conditions. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot was landing on a 2300 foot long, wet grass strip. The pilot reported that he applied the brakes, but he was unable to stop and exited the runway.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND. OTHER RELATED FACTORS WERE THE RAIN AND THE WET RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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