Mooney 252 | N4387W
March 25th, 2024 | St Augustine, Florida
Accident Location
- City: St Augustine
- State: Florida
- Latitude: 29.973
- Longitude: -81.37
- Airport ID: KSGJ
Aircraft Info
- N Number: N4387W
- Make: Mooney
- Model: 252
- Aircraft Category: Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built: No
Pilot Info
- PIC Name: Hofer, Ron
- Gender: Male
- Pilot Age: 79
- Pilot Hours:
- Flight School: No
- Instructional Flight: No
- Pilot Certification: Commercial Pilot
- IFR Rating: Yes
- Pilot Error: Yes
- Pilot Medical: 3rd Class Medical
- Pilot Incapacitation: No
Analysis
- Date: March 25th, 2024
- Time: 11:45 AM Local Time
- Day / Night: Day
- VMC / IMC: VMC
- Phase Of Flight: Initial Climb
- Total People Onboard: 2
- PIC Fatality: 1
- PAX Fatalities: 1
- Ground Fatalities: 0
- Total Fatalities: 2
- NTSB No: ERA24FA154
- NTSB Travel: Yes
- AQP Classification: 6) MISHANDLED ABN., C-FIT
Probable Cause
DTSB: The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot failed to properly secure the aft baggage door, which then opened after takeoff. The pilot became distracted by this abnormal and experienced a loss of speed awareness, and initiated a turn to return to the departure field. The resulting low altitude stall and spin occurred at an altitude too low to effect a normal stall recovery.
NTSB: NONE
Recommendation
DTSB: The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft should check all doors and panels very thoroughly, and if a door inadvertently opens do NOT attempt to close it in flight. The DTSB recommends that in this scenario, a very safe normal pattern be flown at DMMS for a return landing, and then re close the door on the ground.
NTSB: NONE
DISCLAIMER: All data and Probable Cause listings are “Probable” only. They are based on opinion and educated speculation, and are for educational purposes only. They may contain incorrect information and are subject to change as new information becomes available.