What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23)On 3/30/2001 at 1510 local time, a Mooney M20J airplane, N4498H, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a precautionary landing at the Pecos Municipal Airport, Pecos, Texas. The owner pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological codnitions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR part 91 personal flight. The cross country fligth originated from phoenix, AZ. And had a final destination of venice, Florida. The pilot stopped in Pecos for fuel. After departing Pecos enroute to henderson, Texas, at approximately 5,500 feet the baggage door came open. The pilot returned to Pecos where he impacted the ground approximately 200 yards short of runway 14. The right wing, right main landing gear and the propeller were damaged during the landing.
As the FAA filed it
(-23)ON 3/30/2001 AT 1510 LOCAL TIME, A MOONEY M20J AIRPLANE, N4498H, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT THE PECOS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, PECOS, TEXAS. THE OWNER PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CODNITIONS PREVAILED AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGTH ORIGINATED FROM PHOENIX, AZ. AND HAD A FINAL DESTINATION OF VENICE, FLORIDA. THE PILOT STOPPED IN PECOS FOR FUEL. AFTER DEPARTING PECOS ENROUTE TO HENDERSON, TEXAS, AT APPROXIMATELY 5,500 FEET THE BAGGAGE DOOR CAME OPEN. THE PILOT RETURNED TO PECOS WHERE HE IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS SHORT OF RUNWAY 14. THE RIGHT WING, RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND THE PROPELLER WERE DAMAGED DURING THE LANDING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.