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.
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Let me rephrase my answer. Airspeed, airspeed, airspeed.
“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.
Never forget what got you there in the first place (Basic)…….always READ and FOLLOW the check lists
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.
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.
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
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.
No such thing as ‘nose’ trim. The trim setting is on the elevator.
‘Picky Picky Picky’
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..