14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, February 17, 2012 in Fayetteville, NC
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/29/2013
Aircraft: MOONEY AIRPLANE CO INC M20TN, registration: N118RZ
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Minor.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot was in the traffic pattern for landing and was informed by the tower air traffic controller that there was a large airplane (Gulfstream) at his one o'clock position on a 5-mile final approach. The accident pilot replied at 17:27:19, "I see the gulfstream ah gulfstream on the final." A 5.72-mile separation was noted on the controller’s radar screen at that time. At 17:27:24, the approach controller informed the accident airplane, which was at 2,500 feet, "caution wake turbulence" and instructed the pilot to contact the tower. The accident airplane was cleared to land on runway 4 by the controller at 17:27:54. The pilot acknowledged the transmission. The tower controller informed the accident pilot, “caution wake turbulence from the gulfstream" at 17:29:09. The response from the accident airplane was unintelligible. The pilot stated he encountered wake turbulence from the Gulfstream that landed ahead of him and lost airplane control. A witness observed the airplane about 8 feet over the runway when it stalled and landed hard. The pilot applied full engine power and attempted a go-around. The airplane drifted to the left toward an airplane parking ramp, struck a light pole, and spun around, coming to rest in a grass area past the parking ramp.
The required separation in accordance with FAA regulations was 4 miles. It stated that a pilot landing a smaller airplane behind a larger airplane on the same runway should stay above the larger airplane’s final approach path and land beyond it to avoid an encounter with wake turbulence. The pilot had contacted the tower controller, after a handoff from the approach controller, and was cautioned again about wake turbulence. It is likely that the pilot did not land beyond the Gulfstream's touchdown point, and the airplane encountered wake turbulence, which led to the runway excursion and on-ground collision with a pole. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate separation behind a large airplane during landing, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and a loss of control.
On February 17, 2012, at 1732 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20TN, N118RZ, collided with a pole when the pilot lost aircraft control while landing at Fayetteville Regional Airport (FAY), Fayetteville, North Carolina. The airplane was registered to and operated by Tenn. Reality LLC as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The certificated private pilot sustained serious injuries and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Raleigh Durham International Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina at 1707.
The pilot stated that upon arrival at FAY, he was instructed by FAY Tower personnel to enter a left downwind leg of the traffic pattern for landing to runway 4. These instructions were subsequently changed to a right downwind leg. A Gulfstream jet was cleared to land in front of him. He was then cleared to land and the airplane touched down on the main landing gear. The airplane subsequently encountered wake turbulence from the jet. The nose of the airplane pitched up high and the airplane lifted off the runway. He applied power and the airplane went to the left. He immediately applied right rudder and right aileron, which put the airplane in a right bank. The airplane collided with a pole on the pilot's left side of the fuselage and the impact pushed the fuselage inward. The airplane spun around and came to a stop. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident.
A witness, who was located on the ramp, stated he observed the Mooney about 8 feet above runway 4 when the airplane stalled. "The main landing gear and tail section hit the runway." He heard the engine go to what he describe as "full power" and he observed the nose of the airplane pitch up to about a 30-degree attitude at a slow airspeed. The airplane reached about 15 feet off the runway and stalled again. The airplane then collided with the runway on the main landing gear and tail section. The pilot applied full power again and reached about 15 feet, in a 35 to 40-degree left bank when the airplane stalled a third time. The left wing and left main landing gear scraped the runway. The pilot subsequently rolled the airplane to the right to avoid hitting a Gulfstream airplane on the ramp and scrapped the right wing. The right main landing gear touched down on the tarmac and the nose of the airplane collided with a light pole. The engine assembly and nose landing gear separated from the airframe. The airplane spun to the left, completing two 360-degree turns before it came to a stop in a nose down attitude resting on the main landing gear.
Another witness informed the NTSB that he observed the Mooney landing on runway 4. He initially saw top of the airplane in a torque roll to the left at full power. The airplane rolled back to the right and disappeared from view, followed by an impact sound. He went to the crash site and observed the airplane in an upright but nose down attitude. The engine assembly had collided with a light pole and had separated from the light pole. The engine was on fire and he put the fire out.
A third witness was standing next to his company Gulfstream that had just landed. It had been on the ground for about 4 minutes. He was under the right wing hooking up the single point refueling receptacle when he observed the Mooney land on runway 4. The next time he saw the Mooney the right wing tip was dragging the ground and the engine was at full power. The nose section of the Mooney collided with a light pole adjacent to the Gulfstream. The engine assembly separated from the airplane and it spun around to the right before coming to a complete stop.
Review of radio communications between N118RZ and Fayetteville Air Traffic Control revealed that at 17:27:09, a Gulfstream airplane was between twelve to one o’clock at 5 miles on final approach. N118RZ replied at 17:27:19, with a 5.72 mile separation on radar, "I see the gulfstream ah gulfstream on the final." At 17:27:24, the controller informed N118RZ while at 2,500 feet, "caution wake turbulence" and instructed to contact the tower at 17:27:24. N118RZ was cleared to land on runway 4 at 17:27:54. The pilot acknowledged the transmission. The local controller informed N118RZ, "Mooney eight Romeo Zulu caution wake turbulence from the gulfstream" at 1729:09. The response from N118RZ was unintelligible.
The Airman’s Information Manual states in Chapter 4 Air Traffic Control, paragraph 4-4-14 Visual Separation, (b), "A pilot’s acceptance of instructions to follow another aircraft or to provide visual separation from it is an acknowledgment that the pilot will maneuver the aircraft as necessary to avoid the other aircraft or to maintain in-trail separation. In operations conducted behind heavy jet aircraft, it is also an acknowledgment that the pilot accepts the responsibility for wake turbulence separation." The Mooney M20 is considered a small airplane and the Gulfstream is considered a large airplane in accordance with paragraph 7-3-9 Air Traffic Wake Turbulence Separations. The required separation between the two airplanes is 4 miles. The pilot who is landing behind a larger aircraft on the same runway should stay above the larger aircraft’s final approach flight path and note its touchdown point and land beyond it in accordance with paragraph 7-3-5 Vortex Avoidance Procedures. The controller will provide to VFR aircraft that they are in contact with, when in their opinion may be adversely affected by wake turbulence from a larger aircraft, the position, altitude, and direction of flight of larger aircraft followed by the phrase "Caution Wake Turbulence."
Review of the aircraft logbooks revealed the last annual inspection was conducted on December 24, 2011. The airplane has flown 33 hours since the last annual inspection. The engine and airframe had 390 total hours at the time of the accident.
Post accident examination of the crash site by an FAA inspector revealed the left wing left a ground scar on the tarmac. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and traveled about 200 yards before the nose section of the airplane collided with the base of a light pole. Propeller strike marks were present on the base of the concrete block holding the light pole. The nose section with the nose landing gear and propeller assembly separated from the airframe. The airplane spun around to the left and came to rest on a heading of 120 degrees magnetic. The engine assembly had a post crash fire from a ruptured fuel line and was extinguished by an individual who ran to the site to assist.
http://registry.faa.gov/N118RZ
NTSB Identification: ERA12LA184
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, February 17, 2012 in Fayetteville, NC
Aircraft: MOONEY AIRPLANE CO INC M20TN, registration: N118RZ
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On February 17, 2012, at 1732 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20TN, N118RZ, collided with a pole, while landing at Fayetteville Regional Airport (FAY), Fayetteville, North Carolina. The airplane was registered to and operated by Tenn. Reality LLC as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The certificated private pilot sustained serious injuries and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Raleigh Durham International Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina at 1707.
The pilot stated that upon arrival at FAY, he was instructed by FAY Tower personnel to enter a left downwind leg of the traffic pattern for landing to runway 4. These instructions were subsequently changed to a right downwind leg. A Gulfstream jet was cleared to land in front of him. He was then cleared to land and the airplane touched down on the main landing gear. The airplane subsequently encountered wake turbulence from the jet. The nose of the airplane pitched up high and the airplane lifted off the runway. He applied power and the airplane went to the left. He immediately applied right rudder and right aileron, which put the airplane in a right bank. The airplane collided with a pole on the pilot's left side of the fuselage and pushed it inward. The airplane spun around and came to a stop. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident.
Review of radio communications between Fay Tower and the pilot of N118RZ revealed the pilot was cleared to land on runway 4 at 17:2746. At 17:29:11, the pilot was informed to be aware of wake turbulence from a landing Gulfstream airplane. At 17:29:58, the controller informed the Gulfstream pilot nice landing. At 22:32, the ground control crash alarm is heard going off.
Two people were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries Friday evening after their small airplane crashed at Fayetteville Regional Airport, authorities said.
The single-engine Mooney M20TN airplane was landing along Runway 4/22 about 5:30 p.m. when it crashed into a grassy area, striking a light pole, said Tony Coleman, the assistant airport director.
Fayetteville police said that the airplane, piloted by a man with a female passenger, flipped at least once before coming to rest. Both occupants suffered minor injuries and were taken to Cape Fear Valley Regional Medical Center, police said.
The airplane was destroyed, its wreckage coming to rest in a grassy area to the west of Taxiway A, which runs parallel to the main runway, Coleman said. The airplane could be seen sitting upright in the grass, its main fuselage appearing intact.
The cause of the crash remained unknown. Coleman said he was not aware of the pilot radioing the control tower to report any problems.
The aircraft had a tail number of N118RZ, which is owned by Tenn Realty LLC, at 1139 Offshore Drive, according to Federal Aviation Administration records.
The aircraft was built in 2007 and was certified with the company last month, according to records.
According to state corporation records, Tenn Realty is owned by Rita Nitin Desai. Attempts to reach her were unsuccessful Friday night.
The FAA was being consulted about the incident, but because there were no fatalities, it wasn't known whether the agency would investigate, Coleman said.
Coleman said he did not know where the flight originated.
The crash caused some flights to be delayed while crews checked the runways for debris, but the airport was able to remain open to air traffic, Coleman said.
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Federal Aviation Administration officials say a small aircraft carrying two people flipped "several times" off a runway at the Fayetteville Regional Airport Friday evening.
After the aircraft flipped it came to rest upright on the grass near the airport's primary runway.
Airport assistant director Tony Coleman told NBC-17 the two passengers escaped serious injury when the crash happened about 5:30 Friday evening.
The Mooney M-20TN aircraft was piloted by Dr. Nitin Desai and according to airport officials was attempting to land when the accident occurred.
Both Dr. Desai and his wife were injured in the crash and Cumberland County dispatchers say both were taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center with what dispatchers described as “minor injuries.”
Dr. Desai is reported by a hospital spokeswoman to be in good condition still undergoing treatment for his injuries.
Hospital officials were not able to provide a condition report on his wife who was also being treated.
The crash threw debris across the airport’s main runway which officials told NBC-17 was shut down for about 40 minutes until it was cleared.
That shutdown caused two commercial flights to be delayed until that runway was re-opened.
The plane is registered to Tenn Realty LLC., which is registered to Rita Nitin Desai of Fayetteville.
The FAA will be conducting the investigation into the accident.
The single-engine Mooney M20TN airplane was landing along Runway 4/22 about 5:30 p.m. when it crashed into a grassy area, striking a light pole, said Tony Coleman, the assistant airport director.
Fayetteville police said that the airplane, piloted by a man with a female passenger, flipped at least once before coming to rest. Both occupants suffered minor injuries and were taken to Cape Fear Valley Regional Medical Center, police said.
The airplane was destroyed, its wreckage coming to rest in a grassy area to the west of Taxiway A, which runs parallel to the main runway, Coleman said. The airplane could be seen sitting upright in the grass, its main fuselage appearing intact.
The cause of the crash remained unknown. Coleman said he was not aware of the pilot radioing the control tower to report any problems.
The aircraft had a tail number of N118RZ, which is owned by Tenn Realty LLC, at 1139 Offshore Drive, according to Federal Aviation Administration records.
The aircraft was built in 2007 and was certified with the company last month, according to records.
According to state corporation records, Tenn Realty is owned by Rita Nitin Desai. Attempts to reach her were unsuccessful Friday night.
The FAA was being consulted about the incident, but because there were no fatalities, it wasn't known whether the agency would investigate, Coleman said.
Coleman said he did not know where the flight originated.
The crash caused some flights to be delayed while crews checked the runways for debris, but the airport was able to remain open to air traffic, Coleman said.
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Federal Aviation Administration officials say a small aircraft carrying two people flipped "several times" off a runway at the Fayetteville Regional Airport Friday evening.
After the aircraft flipped it came to rest upright on the grass near the airport's primary runway.
Airport assistant director Tony Coleman told NBC-17 the two passengers escaped serious injury when the crash happened about 5:30 Friday evening.
The Mooney M-20TN aircraft was piloted by Dr. Nitin Desai and according to airport officials was attempting to land when the accident occurred.
Both Dr. Desai and his wife were injured in the crash and Cumberland County dispatchers say both were taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center with what dispatchers described as “minor injuries.”
Dr. Desai is reported by a hospital spokeswoman to be in good condition still undergoing treatment for his injuries.
Hospital officials were not able to provide a condition report on his wife who was also being treated.
The crash threw debris across the airport’s main runway which officials told NBC-17 was shut down for about 40 minutes until it was cleared.
That shutdown caused two commercial flights to be delayed until that runway was re-opened.
The plane is registered to Tenn Realty LLC., which is registered to Rita Nitin Desai of Fayetteville.
The FAA will be conducting the investigation into the accident.
