# NTSB CEN09CA058: Mooney M20E, N1264X, San Antonio, TX, November 11, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 11, 2008, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.506111, -98.792221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5061&lon=-98.7922&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69436 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69436/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA058 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to lower the gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to complete the before landing checklist. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was returning to land at the non-towered airport after aborting a cross country flight because of deteriorating weather conditions. The pilot said he was focused on the proper glide path during the final approach and that he forgot to lower the landing gear. The airplane slid to a stop on the runway with the landing gear still retracted. There were no injuries to the solo pilot on board, but substantial structural damage to the belly of the fuselage. ## Factual narrative The pilot was returning to land at the non-towered airport after aborting a cross country flight because of deteriorating weather conditions. The pilot said he was focused on the proper glide path during the final approach and that he forgot to lower the landing gear. The airplane slid to a stop on the runway with the landing gear still retracted. There were no injuries to the solo pilot on board, but substantial structural damage to the belly of the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1264X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1264X), registered now, S/N 137, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20E - Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 137 - Airframe hours: 4620 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 201 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 2008, 6 hours before - Departed: 8T8, San Antonio, TX - Destination: KCUH, Cushing, OK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 8T8, San Geronimo Airport, runway 17, 3,000 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 126 total, 14 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KSAT, 17 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 20081111852269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081111852269A), Nov 11, 2008: Mooney M20E, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot departed the airport for a cross country flight. Once airborne, the pilot found the cloud ceilings lower than forecasted and returned to the… 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.