Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On July 4, 2008, about 1148 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Mooney M-20M airplane, N17RA impacted terrain while attempting a go around at Kelly Airpark (CO15), seven miles west of Elbert, Colorado. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 with a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated at Centennial Airport (APA), Englewood, Colorado and was terminating at the time of the accident.

The pilot and passenger departed the accident location earlier in the morning for Centennial Airport, CO (KAPA) to fuel the airplane. The pilot purchased 71 gallons of fuel and departed KAPA for Las Vegas, NV, but returned to CO15 one hour after takeoff due to turbulence. During the fist visual approach the pilot initiated a go around when another plane flew in front of him while on final approach. During the second approach the airplane nose dropped, striking the nose gear on the runway and bouncing on touchdown. The pilot stated he applied power for a go around, began a positive rate of climb and retracted the flaps to the first setting per the Pilot Operating Handbook procedures. He saw that he was sinking and pushed the throttle to the fire wall. He said the engine did not respond properly and the airplane settled back to the ground, striking the tail and landing left of the departure end of the runway. The airplane traveled several hundred feet before stopping on its belly. The pilot estimated the airplane gross weight at 2,980 pounds at the time of the accident.

One witness stated they "saw the Mooney headed north at slow speed, nose high attitude. [The pilot] added power and it mushed down." A second witness said, "when I saw the nose attitude of the aircraft (very nose high) with gear extended I knew they were in trouble." A third witness who saw the initial takeoff in the morning said it was not a great performing takeoff and the airplane did not sound as strong as the other two 300 hp airplanes on the airfield. He also witnessed a portion of the final go around and said the airplane "seemed a little slow and steep on the go around."

Examination of the airplane revealed bending of two fuselage bulkhead structures on the underside of the tail. Additionally, the forward section of the left horizontal stabilizer was bent upwards.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The 59 year old pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land. His last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) second-class medical was issued on June 13, 2007, with the limitation of "Holder shall possess glasses that correct for near vision."

The pilot indicated on the NTSB Form 6120.1 he had a total flight time of 274 hours; of which 39 hours were in this make and model of airplane. He logged 15 hours in the last 90 days and 11 in the last