Mooney M20R accident near West Chester, Pennsylvania, August 16, 2011
On August 16, 2011 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Mooney M20R, registered N121RP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near West Chester, Pennsylvania (Brandywine Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2011 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- West Chester, Pennsylvania · Brandywine Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20R · all M20Rs on the register
- Registration
- N121RP · registry record · serial 29-0141
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during an approach to the runway, the wind was gusting. As he reached the threshold, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane dropped to the runway then bounced. The pilot realized that the airplane was both airborne and slow, so he applied full takeoff power to initiate a go-around. The airplane encountered another gust and started to drop again as the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot retracted the landing gear in an attempt to climb, but the airplane impacted the runway and slid into the grass. An examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that the wind was variable at 8 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of lift during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,849 hours in all; 655 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,747 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 10, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,246 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 8, 2010; 105 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,374 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: John A Rossi INC
The flight
- Departed from: PHF Newport News VA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: N99 West Chester PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 09, 3,347 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 8 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from OQN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA11CA460.