# NTSB BFO92LA148: Mooney M20E, N1338W, Stow, MA, September 26, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 25, 1992, 20:30 local (Sep 26, 1992, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Stow, MA
- Location: 42.4604° N, 71.5180° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MINUTE MAN AIR FLD (6B6), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4604&lon=-71.5180&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11855
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11855/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA148

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DARKNESS, A LACK OF RUNWAY LIGHTING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF VISUAL QUES.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not operating (contributing factor)
  - landing lights - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING LANDINGS AT NIGHT FOR CURRENCY.  HE STATED THAT HE ELECTED TO LAND WITH THE LANDING LIGHT OFF, AND THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN LEFT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE.  THE LEFT LANDING GEAR WAS OFF THE RUNWAY, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO VEER LEFT. THE LEFT WING HIT BUSH(ES) AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST.  THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED ONTO ROUGH TERRAIN AND CAME TO REST WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGED.  THE PILOT REPORTED THERE WAS A LACK OF RUNWAY LIGHTING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1338W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1338W-1993-02-19), registration cancelled 1993-02-19, S/N 226 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 226
- Airframe hours: 3490
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Paul M. Kinzelman
- Registered owner: Paul M. Kinzelman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 1992, 8 hours before
- Airport: 6B6, Minuteman, runway 3, 2,800 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,140 total, 700 in this make and model, 2,060 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BED, 10 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 19920925044259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920925044259A), Sep 25, 1992: Mooney M20E, Stow, MA, Substantial damage. Practice night landing. Tried san landing light. Landed wheel off edge. Veered into bushes. Lacked runway lights.

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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