# NTSB ATL84LA196: Mooney M20E, N3494X, Seale, AL, June 9, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1984, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Seale, AL
- Coordinates: 32.300304, -85.180114 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3003&lon=-85.1801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6474
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84LA196
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6474/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84LA196

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT APPROACHED DOWNWIND AT 80 MPH WITH FULL FLAPS. AT TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT BOUNCED AND FLOATED ABOUT 600 FT BEFORE A 2ND TOUCHDOWN. WHEN THE ACFT COULD NOT BE STOPPED ON THE SHORT GRASS RWY, IT WAS GROUNDLOOPED TO STAY ON THE ARPT. DURING THE GROUNDLOOP THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED. THIS WAS THE PLTS 1ST LANDING IN THIS ACFT ON A SHORT GRASS RWY. PREVIOUSLANDINGS WERE ON HARD SURFACE RWYS OF 3000 FT OR MORE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3494X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3494X), registered now, S/N 1162, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1162
- Airframe hours: 2900
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William F. Carroll
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 1, 1983, 65 hours before
- Departed: CSG, COLUMBUS, OH
- Airport: PVT, Joe Mathous, runway 32, 1,588 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 142 total, 61 in this make and model, 88 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CSG, 18 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 19840609023339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840609023339A), Jun 9, 1984: Mooney M20E, Seale, AL, Substantial damage. Unable to stop on the runway. Ground looped near end of runway to avoid running onto a busy highway.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.