# NTSB ATL89IA180: Mooney M20C, N1379W, Marietta, GA, July 18, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 18, 1989, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Marietta, GA
- Coordinates: 33.999759, -84.470245 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9998&lon=-84.4702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7930
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89IA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7930/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89IA180

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO DECAY PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED DURING THE FLARE MANEUVER. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, DAMAGING THE RIGHT WING AND PROPELLER TIPS. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RECOVER FROM THE IMPACT AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1379W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1379W-2014-09-05), registration cancelled 2014-09-05, S/N 2660, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2660
- Airframe hours: 5214
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Wayne B. Crutchley
- Registered owner: Wayne D Crutchley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 10, 1988, 70 hours before
- Destination: KENNESAW, GA
- Airport: RYY, Mccallum Field, runway 9, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,110 total, 920 in this make and model, 1,025 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Observed at: FTY

## 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 19890718023819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890718023819A), Jul 18, 1989: Mooney M20C, Marietta, GA, Substantial damage. Stalled after flaring too high. Hit runway wing low, bounced and recovered. Was attempting a short field 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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