RONAN, MT, USA
N9273M
MOONEY M20E
DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL ON A ROUGH AND UNEVEN AIRSTRIP, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED, BECAME AIRBORNE AND TURNED SIDEWAYS AS THE LEFT WING TIP CAUGHT IN TALL GRASS NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND REDUCED POWER TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH TREES. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND SPUN AROUND 90 DEGREES TO THE ORIGINAL DIRECTION OF TRAVEL.
On June 29, 1995, at 1200 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20E, N9273M, collided with the terrain during the takeoff roll from a private airstrip near Ronan, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was departing for Anaconda, Montana, on a personal flight. In a written statement, the pilot reported that during the takeoff ground roll on the uneven grass airstrip, the airplane bounced, became airborne and turned sideways as the left wing tip caught in tall grass next to the runway. The pilot opted to abort the takeoff and reduce power to avoid colliding with trees. The airplane collided with a ditch and spun around 90 degrees to the original direction of travel.
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A ROUGH/UNEVEN AIRSTRIP AND TALL VEGETATION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
