| Crash location | 39.581111°N, 120.354444°W |
| Nearest city | Sierraville, CA
39.589626°N, 120.367430°W 0.9 miles away |
| Tail number | N881B |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 02 Sep 2002 |
| Aircraft type | Mooney M20 |
| Additional details: | None |
On September 2, 2002, about 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20, N881B, veered off the runway during takeoff from runway 21 at Dearwater Airport, Sierraville, California. The airplane became airborne, then impacted the ground, sheering off the left main landing gear. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and one passenger was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight was originating at the time, en route to Cloverdale, California. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
In the pilot's written statement, he stated that no weather briefing was obtained prior to the flight, and the windsock was missing. He estimated the winds crossing runway 21 were from 260 degrees to 270 degrees, gusting over 10 knots. The pilot said that just as the airplane was lifting off the ground, it stalled, and he lowered the nose. The wind blew the airplane off the side of the runway; the pilot applied rudder and aileron to correct back to the runway; however, the wind continued to push the airplane off the runway toward a bank. He retarded the throttle as the propeller struck the ground. The left main gear dug into the ground and sheared off, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The right wing tip dug into the earth.
The airport elevation was 4,984 feet, and the pilot said that the temperature was 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The Safety Board investigator-in-charge computed an approximate density altitude of 7,400 feet at the time of the accident. Review of the airplane's Federal Aviation Administration's approved flight manual disclosed that the maximum factory demonstrated crosswind performance capability is 11 knots for a takeoff configuration.
the pilot's decision to attempt takeoff in crosswind conditions that likely exceeded the capability of the airplane, and, his subsequent failure to maintain the airplane's proper alignment over the runway. Also causal was the pilot's premature liftoff and subsequent failure to attain sufficient airspeed for the ambient conditions, which resulted in a stall mush. The crosswind and high density altitude were factors.