# NTSB ATL83LA204: Mooney M20K, N9872Q, Mitchellville, MD, May 29, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1983, 21:30 local (May 29, 1983, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Mitchellville, MD
- Coordinates: 38.949192, -76.72982 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9492&lon=-76.7298&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6075
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83LA204
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6075/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA204

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - flight/nav instruments,altimeter - erratic (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight/nav instruments,vertical velocity indicator - erratic (contributing factor)
  - clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - pitot/static system - water (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear strut - overload (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload (contributing factor)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9872Q-1988-08-15), registration cancelled 1988-08-15, S/N 250538 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-0538
- Airframe hours: 456
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830528025379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830528025379A), May 28, 1983: Mooney M20K, Mitchellville, MD, Substantial damage. Aircraft hit chain link fence 75 feet short of runway during night landing.

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.

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