# NTSB BFO93LA130: Mooney M20J, N5817P, Cooperstown, NY, July 19, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 1993, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Cooperstown, NY - Coordinates: 42.699954, -74.919227 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7000&lon=-74.9192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8793 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8793/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA130 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND. OTHER RELATED FACTORS WERE THE RAIN AND THE WET RUNWAY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - roadway/highway ## Analysis THE PILOT MADE THREE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO LAND ON RUNWAY 2. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT ON THE FOURTH LANDING, THE PILOT LANDED LONG WITH ABOUT 500 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING. HE STATED THAT THE PILOT TRIED TO GO AROUND WITH 30 FEET OF RUNWAY LEFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS LAST APPROACH APPEARED TO BE SATISFACTORY, AS HIS AIRSPEED WAS 70 KNOTS AND HE TOUCHED DOWN 1/4 WAY DOWN THE 2300 FOOT GRASS RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT HE RAISED HIS FLAPS, APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO SKID. HE REPORTED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND, BUT HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH AIRSPEED; HE RAISED THE NOSE TO CLEAR TERRAIN, AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED, IMPACTED THE GROUND AND EXITED ONTO A ROAD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION,AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD ABORTED THE LANDING AND DIVERTED TO ANOTHER AIRPORT WITH BETTER CONDITIONS. ## Factual narrative On Monday, July 19, 1993, at about 1400 eastern daylight time, N5817P, a Mooney M20J, operated by K L I Aero Services Inc. of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, and piloted by Gary Wolf of Lauderhill, Florida, crashed during landing at Cooperstown Westville Airport, Cooperstown, New York. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91 and originated in Albany, New York. The pilot made three unsuccessful attempts to land on runway 2. A witness reported that the pilot landed long with about 500 feet of runway remaining. He also stated that the pilot with 30 feet of runway remaining tried to go around. The pilot stated that his last approach seemed to be satisfactory. He stated that his airspeed was 70 knots and he touched down 1/4 way down the runway. "Raised flaps, applied brakes. Plane continued down runway skidding and locked brakes. When end of runway in view, attempted go- around. Unable to obtain speed...lowered nose to gain speed and then raised to avoid terrain. Stalled and dropped." The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction and the accident could have been prevented if he had aborted the landing and diverted to an alternate airport with better conditions. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot was landing on a 2300 foot long, wet grass strip. The pilot reported that he applied the brakes, but he was unable to stop and exited the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5817P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5817P-1996-02-29), registration cancelled 1996-02-29, S/N 241591 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1591 - Airframe hours: 2133 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: K L I Aero Services Inc. - Registered owner: K L I Aero Services - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 1993, 18 hours before - Departed: ALBANY, NY - Airport: NY54, Cooperstown Westville, runway 2, 2,300 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 280 total, 202 in this make and model, 210 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 13 knots - Visibility: 2.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: UCA, 1 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 19930719024459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930719024459A), Jul 19, 1993: Mooney M20J, Westville, NY, Substantial damage. Too fast and poor traction on 3rd try to land. Lifted at end runway to go around. Settled and impacted off airport. 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.