FTW98LA018

Factual narrative

On October 19, 1997, at 0216 central daylight time, a Mooney M20F airplane, N7433V, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while executing a go-around near College Station, Texas. The non-instrument rated private pilot and the left rear seat passenger sustained minor injuries, while the passengers seated in the right front and the left rear seats were seriously injured. The rental airplane was owned by Chamberlain Enterprises Inc., of Bryan, Texas, and operated by the Texas A&M Flying Service of College Station, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the night cross country flight for which a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 2345. The personal flight originated at College Station at 0830 in the morning. After one refueling stop at Ada, Oklahoma, the flight landed at Manhattan, Kansas, at approximately 1300. The four college students aboard the airplane were to attend a Kansas State-Texas A&M football game in Manhattan, Kansas. After the game and a meal, the students returned to the airport at about 2000 to prepare for the flight back to College Station. The flight departed Manhattan, Kansas, at approximately 2130 with Oklahoma City as its intermediate refueling stop. The flight arrived at Oklahoma City at 2315. After toping off with fuel, the flight departed again at 2345 on their return leg to College Station. The pilot reported that he had visual contact with the Easterwood Field Airport when 15 miles north of the airport. After obtaining the weather, he initiated a descent for a straight-in approach to runway 16. The pilot added that "while on short final for runway 16 he felt that his rate of descent was too steep," so he elected to execute a go-around when the airplane was approximately 40 feet above the runway. The pilot told the FAA inspector at the accident site that "the airplane stalled after he applied full power and retracted the landing gear and flaps." In the enclosed pilot statement, under the heading of "Other general Observations," the pilot stated that he was extremely fatigued due to the 20 hour day, the 8.5 hour flight-day and the chronic fatigue from being a college student. He also noted that he felt extreme pressure form the passengers to get back to Texas ("get-there-itis"). The pilot also stated that this was only his second night landing in the airplane and he considered himself "to have low time" in the airplane. After impacting the ground, the airplane skidded on the grass for approximately 128 feet. The airplane came to rest approximately 150 feet to the left of the centerline of Runway 16, about 100 to 150 feet north of taxiway Bravo. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector confirmed that the right wing and the engine mounts sustained structural damage. The mixture control lever was found "approximately half way out" from the full rich position. The Lycoming IO-360-B1A engine, serial number L-9751-A1A, was examined under the supervision of the FAA inspector by a representative of the engine manufacturer. No anomalies were found that would have prevented normal engine operation. The night cross country flight originated at Manhattan, Kansas, where the four college students aboard the airplane attended a Kansas State-Texas A&M football game. The flight had landed at Oklahoma City for fuel near midnight. The pilot reported that he had visual contact with the Easterbrook Field Airport when 15 miles north of the airport. After obtaining the weather, he initiated a descent for a straight-in approach to Runway 16. The pilot added 'while on short final he felt that his rate of descent was too steep' so he elected to execute a go-around when the airplane was approximately 40 feet above the runway. The pilot reported that 'the airplane stalled after he applied full power and retracted the landing gear and flaps.' In the enclosed statement, under the heading of 'Other General Observations,' the pilot stated that he was extremely fatigued due to the 20 hour day, the 8.5 hour flight-day and the chronic fatigue from being a college student. He also noted that he felt extreme pressure from the passengers to get back to Texas ('get-there-itis'). The pilot also stated that this was only his second night landing in the airplane and he considered himself 'to have low time' in the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12