The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain while maneuvering at approximately 1215 Central time, killing the Private pilot and two passengers. Visual conditions prevailed. A pilot-rated witness reported seeing the airplane on final approach with its landing gear retracted. He then observed the airplane make a shallow left turn, followed by a second left turn, but with a 60-70 degree bank angle. The witness stated that during the second turn the airplane did a knife-edge drop. Before losing sight of the airplane behind a row of hangars, it appeared that the airplane was leveling off. The airplane came to rest upright in the backyard of a residential area. All components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site.
July 20, 2005, Saginaw, Texas / Mooney M20J
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain while maneuvering at approximately 1215 Central time, killing the Private pilot and two passengers. Visual conditions prevailed. A pilot-rated witness reported seeing the airplane on final approach with its landing gear retracted. He then observed the airplane make a shallow left turn, followed by a second left turn, but with a 60-70 degree bank angle. The witness stated that during the second turn the airplane did a knife-edge drop. Before losing sight of the airplane behind a row of hangars, it appeared that the airplane was leveling off. The airplane came to rest upright in the backyard of a residential area. All compone...
Key Takeaways:
- A private pilot and two passengers were killed when their airplane sustained substantial damage upon impacting terrain in a residential area.
- A witness observed the airplane on final approach with landing gear retracted, making two left turns, the second with a steep bank angle leading to a "knife-edge drop."
- The airplane appeared to be leveling off before impact, ultimately coming to rest upright in a residential backyard.
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