NTSB Factual Report

On June 6, 2002, at 1641 central daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N201Y, operated by Northland Aircraft Services as a rental airplane, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing on runway 14R (3,266 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at the Crystal Airport (MIC), Minneapolis, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The private pilot was uninjured. The flight originated from the Wilder Airport (6E5), DeSmet, South Dakota, at 1530, and was en route to MIC.

The pilot stated in a written statement, "...Approach was perfect, on the VASI lights, 1 knotch of flaps, then full flaps. Crab during approach, change to slip on short final. Touchdown on windward wheel [approximately] 75 kts. Then gust of wind picked me up. I pulled power full off, wheel back, but plane started 'porpoising' and blowing sideways toward downwind side of runway. I aborted landing, full power and wings level. But wind blew plane off course toward east. There was no climbing and now heading toward hangers on east side. I turned to NE and left wing stuck ground. Plane struck grass sideways on belly and came to stop."

The automated surface observing system at MIC, recorded at 1653: wind from 170 degrees at 14 kts gusting to 23 kts.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during an aborted landing.