# NTSB CEN09IA416: Mooney M20J, N201FD, Midland, TX, July 6, 2009 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2009, 15:46 local (20:46 UTC) - Place: Midland, TX - Coordinates: 32.036388, -102.10083 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0364&lon=-102.1008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74216 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09IA416 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74216/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74216 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09IA416 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to ensure the airplane was properly configured, which resulted in a wheels-up landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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 M20J, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis **This report was modified on May 20, 2010** The private pilot stated that following an uneventful approach to land, the airplane's landing gear collapsed after touchdown. The pilot reported that he heard the main landing gear tires "squeak" onto the runway, after which he lowered the nose and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to a stop. The pilot exited the airplane and put out a fire that had started. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained minor damage. An examination of the airplane showed the propeller tips curled, and scrapes on the inboard edges of the flaps. Longitudinal-running scrapes were observed on the Fiberglass belly pan. The inner portions of the main gear doors and both nose gear doors also showed longitudinal scrapes indicative of the gear doors being closed when the airplane made contact with the runway surface. An examination of the runway showed a series of single, narrow metal scrapes, proceeding down the runway, which were consistent with an underbelly antennae making contact. This was followed by a single long and wider scrape, consistent with the airplane’s underbelly making contact, which proceeded down and to the left side of the runway to the runway’s left edge. Further on-scene examination of the airplane showed that the landing gear extension handle was in the up (retracted) position. The flap extension handle was also in the up (retracted) position. During follow on testing, the landing gear was successfully extended. No mechanical anomalies were found with the airplane, and the pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the landing gear prior to the accident. In his written statement, the pilot reported that prior to leaving the airplane, he went back inside, raised the flaps and placed the landing gear handle in the retracted position, and then turned off the power. ## Factual narrative **This report was modified on May 20, 2010** The private pilot stated that following an uneventful approach to land, the airplane's landing gear collapsed after touchdown. The pilot reported that he heard the main landing gear tires "squeak" onto the runway, after which he lowered the nose and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to a stop. The pilot exited the airplane and put out a fire that had started. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained minor damage. An examination of the airplane showed the propeller tips curled, and scrapes on the inboard edges of the flaps. Longitudinally-running scrapes were also observed on the main and nose landing gear doors and the Fiberglas belly pan. The on-scene examination showed that the landing gear extension handle was in the up (retracted) position. The flap extension handle was also in the up (retracted) position. An examination of the runway showed a series of single metal scrapes, followed by a long single scrape, proceeding down the left side of the runway and ending at the runway’s left edge. During follow on testing, the landing gear was successfully extended and no mechanical anomalies were found with the airplane. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the landing gear prior to the accident. In his written statement, the pilot reported that prior to leaving the airplane, he went back inside, raised the flaps and placed the landing gear handle in the retracted position, and then turned off the power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N201FD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201FD-2019-05-01), registration cancelled 2019-05-01, S/N 24-0168, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 240168 - Airframe hours: 4808 - Engines: Lycoming IO360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michael Hartman - Registered owner: Michael Hartman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 2008 - Departed: KSJT, San Angelo, TX - Destination: KMDD, Midland, TX - Airport: KMDD, Midland Airpark, runway 16, 3,977 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,444 total, 1,231 in this make and model, 1,444 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KMDD ## 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 20090706011599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090706011599A), Jul 6, 2009: Mooney M20J, Midland, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 6, 2009 at approximately 1540CDT, the pilot of N201FD, a Mooney M20J, during a flight from san angelo, Texas (sjt), executed a gear up landing on… ## Other investigations on N201FD (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA18LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA172), Jun 19, 2018: Mooney M20J (N201FD), Monroe, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74216. 566 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 524 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.