Warsaw, IN, USA
N5763H
MOONEY M20J
The pilot reported that, while approaching the airport for landing, he entered a left downwind leg for the traffic pattern and then “allowed” the wind to push the airplane too close to the runway, which he overshot on final approach. The airplane was not aligned with the runway when it “hit the ground hard and bounced.” The airplane began to porpoise and bounced several more times as it departed the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted a go-around; however, he never regained control of the airplane. The right wingtip impacted an airport fuel storage facility about 350 feet left of the runway, and the airplane came to rest upright about 50 feet from the initial impact. Significant fuel spilled, but no postimpact fire ensued. The impact resulted in the collapse of the landing gear and substantial damage to the engine mount, firewall, fuselage, and both wings. The pilot reported that he had become complacent after flying this airplane for 6 years, that he was unprepared for the violent bouncing from the hard landing, and that he should have had better training to prepare him for the stress, confusion, and surprise that resulted. The pilot also reported no mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot reported that after he entered a left downwind he allowed a wind component from his right side to push him too close to his landing runway and he overshot his turn to final. The airplane was not aligned with the runway when it “hit the ground hard and bounced”. The airplane began to porpoise and bounced several more times as it departed the left side of the runway and the pilot attempted a go-around, but never regained control. The right wingtip impacted an airport fuel storage facility about 350 feet to the left of the runway and the airplane came to rest upright about 50 feet from the initial impact. There was a significant fuel spill, but no postimpact fire. The impact resulted in the collapse of the landing gear and substantial damage to the engine mount, firewall, fuselage, and both wings. The pilot reported that he was unprepared for the violent bouncing from the hard landing and that he should have had better training to prepare him for the stress, confusion and surprise that resulted. The pilot also reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure and that he had become complacent after flying this airplane for six years.
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around maneuver. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s complacency flying the airplane and his lack of training on bounced landing recovery procedures.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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