ATL83LA204

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20K · Mitchellville, MD · May 29, 1983

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 28, 1983, 21:30 local (May 29, 1983, 01:30 UTC)
Place
Mitchellville, MD
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N9872QMooney M20K
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830528025379A
Case key
6075

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

UndershootApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Flight/nav instruments,altimeter - erraticFactor
Proper glidepath - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Flight/nav instruments,vertical velocity indicator - erraticFactor
Clearance - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Pitot/static system - waterFactor
In flight collision with objectApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Object - fenceFactor
Terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankmentFactor
Complete gear collapsedLanding - flare/touchdown
Landing gear,main gear strut - overloadFactor
Landing gear,nose gear assembly - overloadFactor

Analysis

The acft collided with a chain link fence and a dirt bank on the final approach just prior to touchdown. The fence was about a foot and a half higher than the dirt and the dirt bank was aprx an equal height above the runway. The plt had flown through rain showers while enroute. He reported that his vertical speed indicator fluctuated unusually and the altimeter was sluggish. On his approach to land the pilot reported noticing that he was lower than he should have been. The weather was VMC but it was a dark night. About 75 ft short of the rwy threshold the acfts propeller, fuselage and landing gear hit and knocked down part of a chain link fence, including a steel post. The landing gear collapsed and the propeller hit the dirt bank. The acft bounced and landed on the bottom of the fuselage ft short of the rwy. It slid down the rwy and to the side an undetermined distance. (It was moved prior to investigation.) Examination of the pitot static system revealed about 3 tablespoonsful of water trapped in the lines.

Aircraft

Registration
N9872Q
Reported as
Mooney M20K
Category
Airplane
Serial number
25-0538
Airframe hours
456
Engine
Continental TSIO-360-GB, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Air Lease
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · July 23, 1982 · 67 hours before
Departed
AIY · Atlantic City, NJ
Airport
W00 · Freeway, runway 18, 2,150 × 30 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
50
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,001 total · 174 in this make and model · 1,756 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
140° at 5 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
5,000 ft broken
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
DCA, 14 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.