The pilot and passenger reported that the Mooney M20C had undergone recent maintenance, and the purpose of flight was to perform a test flight.
The first takeoff at the airport in Morganton, N.C., was made without issue and the pilot landed after performing two go-arounds in the traffic pattern.
He then taxied to the ramp and completed a visual inspection of the airplane.
Subsequently, he taxied for another takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began pulling and turning to the left, and despite the pilot’s control applications, the airplane departed the runway and its left wing collided with the runway’s precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with the runway’s precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights.
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This October 2023 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.
I suggest the procedure that when the pilot becomes a passenger and the airplane is doing its own thing ….turn off the mag switch at least you can save an engine overhaul and perhaps get the damn thing stopped before too much damage happens.
I suspect the control application that might have been missed was chop the throttle.
Juan Brown preaches no passengers should be included in immediately post-maintenance test flights. They’re lucky they lived to tell the tale. Let the owner/pilot take the risk of death through faulty repairs.
Regards/J
According to the pilot’s report, the passenger was the A & P who had performed the “extensive annual and complete panel upgrade” which is a fairly common practice.
A stone in the brake disc / pad did this to me on T/O
So, no mention of what may have caused the aircraft to veer left.?
Maybe the pilot didn’t notice that he had his toes on the left brake ?
Maybe a low/ flat left main.?
I landed at my home, 150 ft wide runway and didn’t know that my left main was flat. It pulled hard left and I was just able to get it stopped at the left edge of the runway.
No damage , but required a dolly and a tug to get it to my hangar.