While en route to his destination, the pilot diverted to an alternate airport due to low cloud cover. After reviewing the runway length at the airport in Fairmont, West Virginia, he overflew it, then entered the airport traffic pattern for landing.
He turned onto the base and final legs of the airport traffic pattern, and while on final approach, he recognized the Mooney M20K was fast, but continued the approach.
He told investigators that the airplane touched down too far down the runway, with a witness indicating that the airplane touched down past the last crossing taxiway, which resulted in about 836 feet of runway remaining.
After touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes momentarily, but in that instant, he knew he was fast and added power to abort the landing. The engine responded and he fully retracted the flaps.
During the climb-out, the airplane hit trees and then the ground. The airplane’s fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged. The pilot sustained minor injuries in the crash, while a passenger sustained serious injuries.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and his delay in aborting the landing.
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This August 2024 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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