Two Fatally Injured When The Mooney M20J Impacted Terrain

The NTSB has released a preliminary report from an accident which occurred February 13th involving a Mooney M20J on approach to Bradenton Executive Airport (KBOW) in Florida. Two people on board the aircraft, an instrument-rated private pilot and his wife, were fatally injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the cross country 4-airplane formation flight that originated at 1045 from Spruce Creek Airport (7FL6), Daytona Beach, Florida.

According to the report, the airplane was one of a four-ship formation which had joined the flight at the last minute and assigned the No. 4 position in the formation. The 4 airplanes (RV-9, RV-6A, RV8, and the accident airplane) flew in formation to KBOW. Approaching KBOW, the KBOW air traffic tower controller instructed the formation flight to enter the right downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 23. The formation flew about 3 miles northwest of KBOW and the flight-lead instructed the other pilots in the formation to "Go extended trail." All complied and were in-trail behind the flight lead. The formation flight was cleared to land on runway 23 shortly after the lead airplane entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, and the other airplanes entered the traffic pattern in trail. The lead airplane made a short base turn and it was expected that each airplane would make a later turn onto the base leg than the previous airplane, thereby further increasing the spacing between the airplanes. Airplanes Nos. 1, 2 and 3 made turns to the base and final legs of the airport traffic pattern. The pilot of airplane No. 3 stated that he maintained 70 knots on final approach. The 3 airplanes landed and waited for the accident airplane, which had already impacted terrain unbeknownst to them.

A witness working the ground control position at the KBOW tower at the time of the accident reported that she looked up from her station and saw airplane No. 1 on short final, and airplanes Nos. 2, 3, and 4 (the accident airplane) were "very close" also on short final. From her perspective, airplanes No. 2, 3, and 4 appeared to be in a triangle formation; however, the accident airplane was inverted and descended straight down to the ground.

A witness on the ramp at KBOW was watching the airplanes on final approach and observed what he thought was a "flight of 3." When he first observed the airplanes, they were lined up on final approach in trail of each other: airplane No. 1 was ready to touch down, airplane No. 2 was "a few hundred yards" in trail, and airplane No. 3 was over the airport property boundary. He watched airplane No. 1 "land long" then airplane No. 2 "land short." He then observed the accident airplane approaching airplane No. 3, which was on final approach, from the right at a 30-45° angle. The accident airplane's right wing "dipped severely attempting to avoid" airplane No. 3, followed by a steep left bank and then a vertical descent to the ground. He stated that the accident airplane was "closing in on airplane No. 3" and made a "sharp right turn to avoid a midair." A second witness at the airport reported a similar account and stated that the accident airplane was "going faster than the others."

A dashcam video from a vehicle traveling toward the final approach path of runway 23 captured airplane No. 3 established on final approach and the accident airplane in trail, in a right bank then steep left bank before it entered a nose down attitude and descended toward the ground.

A witness who resided near the accident location stated that she was inside her residence when she heard an airplane that "sounded different" and too low. She stated that the engine made "no noise, then sputtered twice," then "revved up" before she heard the impact.

According to FAA airmen records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. He also held a repairman experimental aircraft builder certificate. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued May 14, 2019, at which time he reported 1,580 total flight hours. Examination of pilot's logbooks revealed 45 flight hours in the previous 90 days and 16 hours in the previous 30 days, 3 hours which were in the accident airplane.

Examination of the accident site and wreckage revealed that the airplane impacted a large tree before impacting terrain at a private residence about .6 statute mile from runway 23 at KBOW. Branches of the tree displayed signs of impact directly above an impact crater in the concrete driveway. A ground scar associated with the left wing was oriented on a magnetic heading of about 090°, and the fuselage came to rest upright oriented on a magnetic heading of about 046°. All major airplane components were located on site. Both wings were impact-crushed aft, and there was no evidence of fire on any portion of the airplane. The left fuel tank was impact breached. The landing gear was determined to be in the UP position and the flaps were selected to 10°.

The engine and its accessories were examined. The engine was rotated using a tool inserted in the vacuum pump drive pad. Continuity of the crankshaft to the rear gears and to the valve train was confirmed. Compression and suction were observed from all four cylinders. The left and right magnetos were removed, and sparks were observed on all towers when each magneto was rotated by hand. Examination of the engine's cylinders with a lighted borescope revealed no anomalies.

The wreckage was retained for further examination

(Source: NTSB. Image from file. Not accident aircraft)

FMI: Report