# NTSB CEN11LA483: Mooney M20S, N442PT, San Antonio, TX, July 18, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 2011, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.533611, -98.469718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5336&lon=-98.4697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81147 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA483 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81147/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81147 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA483 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the go-around maneuver. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870226), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870226), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5870226), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the pilot’s second landing attempt, the airplane touched down on the runway and began to porpoise. The pilot attempted to execute a go-around by applying full engine power; however, the airplane began to yaw left and descend. When the airplane started to bank “uncontrollably” to the left, the pilot executed a gear-up landing in the grass alongside the runway. An examination of the airplane following the accident did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 2011, about 1215 central daylight time, a Mooney Aircraft Corp., M20S, N442PT, experienced a hard landing following an attempted go-around maneuver at the San Antonio International Airport (SAT), San Antonio, Texas. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The cross-country flight was concluding at SAT when the accident occurred. According to the pilot, during his first attempted landing the airplane began to porpoise on the runway and he performed a go-around. Following the second approach the airplane touched down to the runway and again began to porpoise. The pilot reported that he attempted to execute another go-around by applying full engine power; however, the left landing gear would not retract and the airplane began to yaw left and descend. When the airplane started to bank “uncontrollably” to the left, the pilot elected to land in the grass alongside the runway. The pilot further added that during the landing he fractured a vertebra in his back. An eyewitness reported observing the airplane struggling to maintain altitude as it appeared to be “pulling out of a landing.” The landing gear was retracted as the airplane tried to gain altitude as if the pilot had realized at the last moment that his landing gear was not down. As the airplane attempted to climb, it was tilting from side to side while at an approximately 70 degree nose high angle. The airplane’s tail impacted the ground first followed by the fuselage belly. The airplane then bounced about 15 feet into the air before settling back to the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane. The inspector reported that the airplane came to rest upright with the landing gear retracted. The airplane was raised and the gear lowered normally. The inspector was unable to find any preimpact anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N442PT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N442PT), registered now, S/N 30-0018, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20S - Registry model: [Mooney M20S](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20s) (registry code 5870226) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-0018 - Airframe hours: 1170 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 2011 - Departed: BAZ, New Braunfels, TX - Destination: SAT, San Antonio, TX - Airport: SAT, San Antonio International, runway 12L, 5,519 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; last flight review May 28, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,386 total, 63 in this make and model, 1,386 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg ## 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 20110718014879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110718014879A), Jul 18, 2011: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20S, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. On landing N442PT did a go around retracting the gear and flaps. Adding full power at 75 knots and high pitch attitude the plane fall off on the left wing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81147. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353378&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353379&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) (item 3, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353380&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-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.