I have posted about a couple of my flights to Cedar Key. It is a frequent destination for me because it is a nice distance for a lunch, pretty scenery, a bit of a challenge to a pilot, and is a fun town to visit. The field is a bit of a challenge because several reasons; runway is somewhat short with a displaced threshold on the most common heading, poor markings, no weather reporting, single runway so crosswinds are always a possibility, no taxiway so everything is back-taxi on the runway, coastal weather that can rapidly change, and a lot of birds. I have flown there only to cancel landing because I could see the sea fog building and while I knew I could get in I wasn't sure about getting out. When I first started flying there was a Piper in the water as a reminder that it was not kind to errors. Now it's a Mooney.

Anyway- it has struck again.



http://wcjb.com/local-news/2017/03/plane-overshoots-runway-crashes-cedar-key-coast


https://skyvector.com/airport/CDK/George-T-Lewis-Airport

Damn... well, thankfully they were able to walk (wade) away from it.

And I can attest to oldgrognard's caution regarding that airport. I have been with him on an aborted trip up there, and I fully concurred with the wisdom of it.

Quite a short runway for a Mooney, but at least landing shouldn't be a problem. From the video it sounded like the engine quit during a go-around?

We pilots hate to ever admit error. I'm not as convinced that his engine failed as that he waited to long to initiate the go-around. Was too low, slow and dirty and couldn't get a positive rate of climb. May have started retracting flaps before he had the airspeed and positive rate of climb. In the balance of equipment failure and pilot error, sadly pilot error is most often the underlying issue. Failure to execute proper pitch, power, and configuration for your aircraft.

But I'm just spitballing some of my thoughts.

You are right semmern about landing. People talk about the landing at Cedar Key, but I'm more on edge for takeoff. Once you firewall the throttle you are committed. By the time you would want to abort the takeoff you are past the abort point.

Yep, with most GA planes of the Mooney's calibre, landing on a fairly short runway isn't a problem, but getting off again in the same distance might be, especially if there are obstacles around.

Flew over Cedar Key today on the way back from Tallahassee. Since I last flew in, they resurfaced the runway and did new markings. Looks very good; especially compared to what it was like. Thought I was going to get pictures of the plane that went in last week, but they have already pulled it out. If it had still been in the water, I would have done a low pass and taken pictures. These are from 2,000 feet. You can see how much displaced threshold there is which really reduces the usable runway.

Nice pics. Certainly looks quite useable for any pilot who consistently manages to put his plane down at the spot he aims for.

You have some nice airports over there. The two times I've been in the US I have always been impressed by the number of airports, smaller airfields and little dirt and grass strips.

The fact that people live in that area still amazes me.


Wheels

Well, it's nice to be able to go into the sea at any time. Of course it's not so nice when the sea is able to go into your house anytime.

Yep, That was what I was alluding to in my prior post.


Wheels

I looked at the pictures before I read your post and was going to ask: Why is there so much non usable runway, especially on the southwesterly runway (23)?

The Airfield Directory has the cause as the civilian use road at that end. It uses the approach angle and the height of traffic to establish that displaced threshold. I have a picture somewhere that shows the issue very clearly.

Ahhh. I could see that maybe with the homes and development to the northeast. Thanks!!

Here is a plane on approach to runway 23.






You can see how close he is passing over the road. Even then, he touched down beyond the displaced threshold. I usually do similar in that I get low and slow balancing everything for a short field touchdown. I've tried a steeper slow approach, but seem to come out better doing the same as him.






Almost to touchdown.





As you can see, this is before they resurfaced and marked the runway. It used to be in a little bit less than pristine condition.

Cool pictures OG.


Wheels

Same thing happened to the airfield I used to use, road went right across the eastern end of the runway, so they closed the road and the shortened the runway at the other end as the flight path passes over a road that cannot be closed as it is the sole access to the fishing village of Ackergill.

In the 1970s a friend of mine lost his life when he flew to Wick and tried to land in fog, too low, too slow and stalled his aircraft into a boundary wall of a field just off the top left of the picture. He was advised not to fly as by the time he got to Wick it would be fog bound, he didn't listen






Some really great diving sites around the coast there, the small bay where the aircraft comes in across has a natural arch under the water that you can swim through

Gisborne has their own runway hazard.


Source: https://youtu.be/ObfxYwKuwaM


Wheels

The Cedar Key area claims another airplane, but thankfully no lives.


https://www.workboat.com/news/coast...rescues-two-small-plane-crashes-florida/


It's like a Bermuda Triangle.