# NTSB BFO92LA075: Mooney M20F, N9541M, Johnstown, NY, May 27, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1992, 22:23 local (May 27, 1992, 02:23 UTC)
- Place: Johnstown, NY
- Coordinates: 42.999744, -74.370307 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9997&lon=-74.3703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11798
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11798/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA075

## Probable cause

THE PILOT MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING UNDERSHOOD.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS NIGHT CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT TURNED ONTO FINAL APPROACH FOR A LANDING AFTER COMPLETING A VFR NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WAS LOWERED AND FULL FLAPS WERE SELECTED. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HIS AIRSPEED 'DROPPED TO 80 KNOTS' WHILE HE WAS ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AT WHICH TIME HE ADDED MORE POWER TO 'KEEP MY NOSE UP'.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9541M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9541M-1995-02-07), registration cancelled 1995-02-07, S/N 670118 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 2984
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-AIA 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joesph Benanto/John A. Pepe
- Registered owner: Joseph Benanto
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 1991, 16 hours before
- Departed: GTN, GROTON, CT
- Airport: NY27, Johnstown Fulton Co, runway 1, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 922 total, 436 in this make and model, 922 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SCH, 40 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 19920526016419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920526016419A), May 26, 1992: Mooney M20F, Johnstown, NY, Substantial damage. Slow on short final added power but wing dropped and impacted short of runway.

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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