The airplane collided with the ground shortly after takeoff at about 1225 Eastern time. The solo private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane came to rest on airport property and was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot had a gear-up landing accident with the same airplane on April 11, 2011. Maintenance personnel prepped the airplane for a ferry flight by removing the damaged three-blade propeller and replacing it with a two-blade prop. The main landing gear was secured in the extended position due to the previous accident. During initial climb, witnesses reported the engine sounded extremely loud. The sound increased, followed by a loud “bang.” A witness observed the propeller separate from the airplane and fall to the ground, followed by the airplane in a nose-down spiral. The airplane impacted the ground and a post-crash fire ensued.
July 18, 2011, Augusta, Ga., Mooney M20K
The airplane collided with the ground shortly after takeoff at about 1225 Eastern time. The solo private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane came to rest on airport property and was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot had a gear-up landing accident with the same airplane on April 11, 2011.
Key Takeaways:
- A solo private pilot was fatally injured when their airplane crashed shortly after takeoff, following a loud engine sound and a "bang."
- Witnesses observed the propeller separate from the airplane before it entered a nose-down spiral and impacted the ground.
- The airplane had recently undergone maintenance for a previous gear-up landing accident, including a propeller replacement and securing the main landing gear in the extended position for a ferry flight.
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