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Improper nose trim contributes to Mooney crash

By NTSB · September 12, 2018 ·

The pilot arrived to a turf strip in Brodhead, Wisconsin, to attend a fly-in on the day of the accident.

During departure, he applied full aft yoke during the takeoff roll and lifted off with a nose high attitude. Soon after takeoff, the Mooney M20D banked left and descended into a cornfield, which damaged the firewall.

The pilot attributed his nose high attitude immediately after takeoff to an improper nose up trim setting, as he had not set the airplane’s elevator trim to the takeoff position in accordance with the before takeoff checklist.

Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control during initial climb due to an excessively nose-high attitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly set the elevator trim before takeoff in accordance with the Before Takeoff checklist.

NTSB Identification: CEN16CA383

This September 2016 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

About NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation, including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. It determines the probable causes of accidents and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences.

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Comments

  1. Simon says

    September 15, 2018 at 8:21 am

    Let me rephrase my answer. Airspeed, airspeed, airspeed.

    • Suresh Kumar Bista says

      September 16, 2018 at 12:02 am

      “What makes an airplane fly ?……….Airspeed, airspeed, airspeed”. This is what Wilbur said to his brother. Very true.
      Apart from airspeed, configuration needs to be correct for take off or landing. Having said so, unfortunately some pilots do not trim aircrafts correctly. In bigger transport airplanes, load and trim sheets will have the AUW, CG and ‘STAB’ settings. There should be no problem. When I train pilots in the simulator, during take off, take-off climb or approach to land, I sometimes give elevator pitch trim runaway and watch the horror of the pilots trying to control the situation.
      This is exactly what could happen. A trim runaway plus the fact that the airplane is already trimmed nose up or nose down. As pilots, we do not let the aeroplanes fly us. We have to fly airplanes.
      Happy Landings.

  2. Femi says

    September 13, 2018 at 12:16 pm

    Never forget what got you there in the first place (Basic)…….always READ and FOLLOW the check lists

  3. Bob Sauerzopf says

    September 13, 2018 at 11:05 am

    During the mid-fifties, the fbo/instructor walked with me, a seventeen year old student, to the J-3 for a prop and pronounced all was well for a solo flight. The cub lifted off quickly then demanded strong forward stick to maintain proper attitude and airspeed. After a few anxious moments, trim adjustment quickly remedied the condition. The instructor frequently flew solo from the front seat and had left the trim set for that flight condition.

    • Simon says

      September 15, 2018 at 8:11 am

      Always be ready. Two things that will make squeak on take off. Nose high elevator trim or your seat sliding backwards. Just be ready, don’t panic, it’s easily fixed.

  4. Jim Macklin says

    September 13, 2018 at 10:39 am

    At some point in the take-off roll the control wheel would have pushed back hard on the pilot’s hand. THAT should have prompted an abort. But the trim can be over-powered by a strong pilot. while the trim is spun nose down.
    Yes, stupid pilot tricks

  5. JimH in CA says

    September 13, 2018 at 10:17 am

    more ‘Stupid Pilot Tricks’…. this is why we have a ‘before takeoff’ check list; Check fuel, set trim, check gauges, mixture.
    This is especially important if using an unfamiliar runway.

  6. gbigs says

    September 13, 2018 at 7:13 am

    No such thing as ‘nose’ trim. The trim setting is on the elevator.

    • Old Dusterpilot says

      September 13, 2018 at 7:50 pm

      ‘Picky Picky Picky’

    • Roy Lewis says

      September 15, 2018 at 6:13 am

      The report does not contain the phrase “nose trim”. It says “nose up trim” which are words understandable to every pilot. If you are going to be pedantic Mr. Biggs, at least read the material more closely..

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