ATL98LA016

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20J · Summerland Key, FL · November 26, 1997

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 26, 1997, 10:53 local (15:53 UTC)
Place
Summerland Key, FL
Injuries
1 minor, 1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N201LYMooney M20J
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 26, 1998
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19971126035759A
Case key
3949

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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Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to flare the airplane for landing. The gusty crosswind was a related factor.

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.

Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Flare - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Main gear collapsedLanding - flare/touchdown
Landing gear,main gear - overload
On ground/water collision with objectLanding
Object - utility pole
Object - residence

Analysis

According to the pilot, as he was landing at Summerland Key, 'a gust of wind came up about 15 kts.' He said he lowered his left wing into the 'gust' to maintain centerline, and the airplane touched on the left landing gear. The left landing gear broke, and the airplane went off the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the left wing tip hit the pole of a transmission line. The airplane then struck another pole and came to rest after it struck a stilt structure under a house. According to a weather report from Marathon, Florida, the wind was from 050 degrees at 8 knots. No gusts were reported. The runway at Summerland Key was oriented 120 degrees.

Factual narrative

On November 26, 1997, about 1053 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20J, N201LY, collided with a house following a loss of control during landing at the Summerland Key Cove Airport, Summerland Key, Florida. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A visual rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight. There were no injuries to the private pilot, and minor injuries to the passenger. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the house received minor damage. Origination of the flight was Daytona Beach, Florida, about 0915, on the same day.

According to the pilot, as he was landing at Summerland Key, the wind gusted to about 15 knots. He lowered his left wing into the gust to maintain centerline, and he touched on the left landing gear. The left landing gear broke, and the airplane went off the left side of the runway. While attempting to correct, the left wing tip hit a powerline. The airplane then struck another telephone pole, and came to rest when it struck a stilt structure under a house.

A witness stated the pilot appeared to have trouble with the wind.

According to the weather report from Marathon, Florida, the wind was from 050 degrees at 8 knots. No gusts were reported. The runway at Summerland Key was 120 degrees.

Aircraft

Registration
N201LY
Reported as
Mooney M20J
Category
Airplane
Serial number
24-0489
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-A3B6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Charles L. Sours, Jr.
Registered owner
Paradise View Enterprises
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · December 23, 1996 · 90 hours before
Departed
DAB · Daytona Beach, FL
Airport
X20 · Summerland Key Cove, runway 12, 2,394 × 20 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
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
590 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
50° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
3,000 ft broken
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
MTH, 30 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.