# Accident 20180722017589A: Mooney M20E, Great Falls, MT, July 22, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 22, 2018, 09:00 local time
- Place: Great Falls, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.4825° N, 111.3567° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4825&lon=-111.3567&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7845V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7845V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20E (registry code 5870212, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 23 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA438](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA438) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180722017589A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT (FLYING LEFT SEAT) HAD DEPARTED FROM THE GREAT FALLS, MT (KGTF) TO FLY IN THE LOCAL AREA WITH A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (RIGHT SEAT) IN PREPARATION FOR COMMERCIAL PILOT FLIGHT TRAINING.  THEY COMPLETED A SERIES OF FLIGHT MANEUVERS, INCLUDING LANDING AND TAKEOFF STALLS WITH THE GEAR DOWN.  UPON COMPLETION OF THE MANEUVERS, THEY RETURNED TO GTF AND WERE PREPARING TO PERFORM A SHORT FIELD LANDING.    THE INSTRUCTOR ASKED THE PILOT TO SHOW HIM HOW TO PUT THE GEAR DOWN, AS HE HAD NEVER FLOWN A MANUAL GEAR MOONEY.  THE GEAR WAS THEN MOVED FROM THE GEAR DOWN POSITION TO THE GEAR UP POSITION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WITH THE PILOT?S ASSISTANCE AND HAND ON THE ?JOHNSON BAR? GEAR HANDLE. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED HE THOUGHT IT WAS ?HANDLE DOWN=GEAR DOWN?.  THE PILOT AND INSTRUCTOR BOTH DID THE GUMP CHECKLIST TWICE, BOTH VERIFYING THE HANDLE TO BE STOWED DOWN, (WHICH PLACED THE GEAR IN THE UP POSITION.) THE AIRCRAFT THEN LANDED WITH THE GEAR UP, STOPPING AFTER SLIDING ABOUT 800 FEET.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA18CA438](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA438), Jul 22, 2018: Mooney M20E (N7845V), Great Falls, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s incorrect use of the landing gear system and his and the pilot’s failure to ensure that the landing gear was extended, which resulted in a gear-up landing. Contributing to the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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