Mooney M20-J | N1151H

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the accident pilot encountered an engine problem of some kind immediately after takeoff from runway 23 at 35A, and did attempt an aggressive low altitude right hand turn back to the airport, whereupon the aircraft stalled and descended vertically into terrain. The aircraft caught fire upon impact, and none of the four occupants were able to extricate themselves from the burning wreckage in time.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and condition themselves in this scenario to not attempt a return to the departure airport, and to select any open field, and to land off airport with landing gear retracted. The DTSB recommends that all pilot of all aircraft prioritize the selection of the best landing site, and recognize that it is most likely “not” a paved runway or a road.