Event ATL07CA048

Factual narrative

The pilot stated he completed the before landing checklist and turned base and final. The landing gear was extended and the flaps were extended to the full down position. The airplane touched down on the first one-third of the runway and was hit by a gust of wind. The airplane veered to the right, and the pilot applied left rudder. The airplane continued to veer to the right. The pilot was concerned about colliding with an airplane that was parked on the ramp and initiated a go-around. The airplane became airborne and turned to the right with the landing gear and flaps extended. The right wing dropped down, the right wing tip collided with the ground, followed by the left main landing gear, and the airplane skidded to a stop. A mechanic, who is also the fixed base operator at the airport stated the winds were favoring runway 27, and were gusting at about 35 knots. at the time of the accident. The mechanic observed the airplane turn base, final, and touch down in the first one-third of the runway. The airplane was observed to veer to the right and the pilot appeared to make a correction. The airplane continued to veer to the right towards a parked airplane. An increase in engine power was heard and the airplane became airborne. The airplane climbed to about 20 to 30 feet above the runway and veered to the left at a very slow airspeed. The airplane was observed to turn back to the right, and the right wing dropped down as if the airplane encountered a stall. The airplane crossed over two other parked airplanes and the right wing tip collided with the ground about 75 feet behind the parked airplanes. The airplane bounced, the nose of the airplane was observed in a nose high attitude and the tail of the airplane collided with the ground. The nose of the airplane pitched down, and the airplane skidded about 120 feet before it came to a stop. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed the landing gear was extended and the flaps were in the full down position. The right wing was bent up and the aft fuselage was buckled. Review of the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) for the Mooney M20J states in Section IV, Normal Procedures, GO AROUND (BALKED LANDING)...."3. Flaps- AFTER CLIMB ESTABLISHED RETRACT TO 0 DEGREES WHILE ACCELERATING TO 73 KIAS." In addition the POH states in SECTION V, PERFORMANCE, at a gross weight of 2,740 pounds, with the gear and flaps extended with a 0-degree angle of bank, the airplane will stall at 54 KIAS. With a 30-degree angle of bank, the airplane will stall at 59 KIAS. The aircraft stalled during a go-around and struck the ground in uncontrolled flight. A witness (fixed base operator and airframe and power plant mechanic) who observed the accident stated the winds were favoring runway 27, and were gusting at about 35 knots at the time of the accident. The witness observed the airplane turn base, final, and touch down in the first one-third of the runway. The airplane was observed to veer to the right and the pilot appeared to make a correction. The airplane continued to veer to the right towards a parked airplane. An increase in engine power was heard and the airplane became airborne. The airplane climbed to about 20 to 30 feet above the runway and veered to the left at a very slow airspeed. The airplane was observed to turn back to the right, and the right wing dropped down as if the airplane encountered a stall. The airplane crossed over two other parked airplanes and the right wing tip collided with the ground about 75 feet behind the parked airplanes. The airplane was observed to bounce, and the nose of the airplane obtained a nose high attitude before the tail of the airplane collided with the ground. The nose of the airplane pitched down, and the airplane skidded about 120 feet before it came to a stop. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed the landing gear was extended and the flaps were in the full down position. The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) states that an airplane with a gross weight of 2,740 pounds will stall at 54 KIAS with the gear and flaps extended with 0-degrees angle of bank, The airplane will stall at 59 KIAS with a 30-degree angle of bank. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12