# NTSB CEN11CA583: Mooney M20K, N1149D, Cresson, TX, July 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 22, 2011, 21:00 local (Jul 23, 2011, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Cresson, TX - Coordinates: 32.575553, -97.587776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5756&lon=-97.5878&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Fort Worth FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81552 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA583 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81552/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81552 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA583 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and subsequent failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis On the pilot’s second landing attempt, the airplane landed hard on the main landing gear and bounced. The pilot lost control during the bounce, resulting in the airplane touching down hard on the nose landing gear. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid sideways off of the runway. The airplane impacted obstructions and both main landing gear legs collapsed, causing substantial damage to the fuselage and the left wing. The pilot reported that his airspeed was too fast and that the accident would not have happened if he had aborted the landing after the first hard bounce. ## Factual narrative On the pilot’s second landing attempt, the airplane landed hard on the main landing gear and bounced. The pilot lost control during the bounce, resulting in the airplane touching down hard on the nose landing gear. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid sideways off of the runway. The airplane struck obstructions and both main landing gear legs collapsed. The impact caused substantial damage to the fuselage and the left wing. The pilot reported that his airspeed must have been too fast on the first touchdown and that the accident would not have happened if he had just aborted the landing after the first hard bounce. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1149D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1149D-2019-01-08), registration cancelled 2019-01-08, S/N 25-0604, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20K - Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-0604 - Airframe hours: 2994 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 305 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 16, 2011 - Departed: BRO, BROWNWOOD, TX - Destination: 50F, Cresson, TX - Airport: 50F, Bourland Field Airport, runway 17, 4,092 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 25, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 30 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KGDJ, 14 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 20110723029029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110723029029A), Jul 23, 2011: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, Fort Worth, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to land at bourland field. Pilot landed hard, bounced aircraft and the gear collapsed. Aircraft slid off the runway and sustained… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 14, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81552. 397 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 348 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354398&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355541&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Sunset and Moon Data from U S Naval Observatory (item 3, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354399&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sunset%20and%20Moon%20Data%20from%20U%20S%20Naval%20Observatory-Master.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.