On May 23, 2006, at 1830 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20E
single engine airplane, N3217F, registered to Bunk Aviation LLC,
and operated by an individual as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight,
collided with trees and power lines on initial takeoff and climb
from a private airstrip in the vicinity of Blacksburg, South
Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight
plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
The private-rated pilot received serious injuries and the
commercial-rated passenger received minor injuries. The flight was
originating at the time of the accident.
A friend of the pilot and a witness to the accident stated the
pilot and his passenger arrived at the airport in N3217F around
1700 and landed on runway 24. The pilot and passenger were then
driven to a friend's house. The pilot and his passenger returned to
the airport and a thorough pre-flight inspection was completed with
no anomalies found. The pilot wanted to turn the airplane around
before starting it. The pilot and three others attempted to move
the airplane by hand with negative results. The pilot entered the
airplane and released the parking brake and exited the airplane.
They again attempted to move the airplane, with negative
results.
The pilot and passenger then entered the airplane. The pilot
started the engine, turned the airplane around with power, and
taxied to runway 06 for a VFR departure to Columbia Downtown
Airport, Columbia, South Carolina. The witness stated he heard the
pilot conduct an engine run up and observed the airplane begin its
take off roll at 1830. The witness stated the airplane traveled
about 400 to 500 feet down the runway and he estimated the ground
speed of the airplane between 15 to 20 knots. The pilot continued
the takeoff roll.
Upon reaching the end of the runway, the airplane was observed
to make an abrupt pitch up to an attitude estimated to be between
25 to 30 degrees. The witness stated it appeared that the tail tie
down ring contacted the ground. The airplane became airborne,
cleared the trees, rolled to the right, and disappeared from view.
The witness heard two impact sounds and he called the emergency 911
operators to report the accident. The witness went to the crash
scene and observed where the airplane had collided with trees and
power lines. The airplane came to rest in a creek bed and was
engulfed by fire. The passenger exited the airplane and other
persons who had arrived at the crash scene assisted the pilot out
of the airplane.
The witness stated the grass runway is designated 06-24, the
length of the runway is 1,400 feet long, and the width is 80 feet.
The departure end of runway 06 has a drop off to a ravine with a
creek bed and a tree line borders the departure end of the runway.
The tops of the trees have been cut out.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.15.24)
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