Springfield, TN, USA
N3545H
MOONEY M20J
According to the pilot, and as corroborated by the pilot-rated passenger, the pilot first completed two touch-and-go landings with wind at 14 knots, gusting to 22 knots directly down the runway. The pilot then attempted a third landing and, approaching the touchdown point, the airplane yawed 30 to 45 degrees to the right, then back to the left of centerline. It subsequently rolled to the left, the left wing tip impacted the ground, and the pilot added full power. The airplane continued to the left, the pilot reduced power, and the airplane settled into the grass. It then skidded across a ramp and impacted a hangar and a fuel pump. Photographs revealed substantial damage to the outboard leading edge of the left wing and a left-arcing runway scrape mark toward the hangar. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot reported 4,900 hours of flight time, but only 97 hours in the accident airplane and the rest in helicopters. According to the pilot, and as supplemented by the pilot-rated passenger, the pilot first completed two touch and go landings with winds at 14, gusting to 22 knots directly down the runway. The pilot then attempted a third landing, and approaching the touchdown point, the airplane yawed 30 to 45 degrees to the right, then back to the left of centerline. It subsequently rolled to the left, the left wing tip impacted the ground, and the pilot added full power. The airplane continued to the left, the pilot reduced power, and the airplane settled into the grass. It then skidded across a ramp and impacted a hangar and a fuel pump. Photographs revealed substantial damage to the outboard leading edge of the left wing, and a left-arcing runway scrape mark toward the hangar. They also revealed that once the airplane had come to rest, only the outboard portion of the right wing and the nose had impacted any structures. Neither pilot reported any preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while landing in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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