# NTSB CEN12CA486: Mooney M20M, N9145L, Heber Springs, AR, July 25, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 25, 2012, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Heber Springs, AR
- Coordinates: 35.511665, -92.012779 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5117&lon=-92.0128&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 5, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Little Rock FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84475
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA486
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84475/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84475
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA486

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare, which led to a bounced landing and a subsequent loss of control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870222), [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-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he flared too high and the airplane landed hard and bounced. The airplane subsequently stalled and the left wing dropped. After impact, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and skidded down an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he flared too high and the airplane landed hard and bounced. The airplane subsequently stalled and the left wing dropped. After impact, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and skidded down an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9145L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9145L-2013-09-26), registration cancelled 2013-09-26, S/N 27-0094, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20M
- Registry model: [Mooney M20M](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20m) (registry code 5870222) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-0094
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Fuller Ira B III
- Registered owner: Fuller Ira B III
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ATW, Appleton, WI
- Destination: HBZ, Heber Springs, AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HBZ, Heber Springs Municipal, runway 23, 4,002 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 923 total, 296 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 99 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 20120725013799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120725013799A), Jul 25, 2012: Mooney M20M, Heber Springs, AR, Substantial damage. On July 25, 2012, at approximately 1430 CDT, N9145L, a Mooney M20M aircraft, [privacy data omitted] and operated by a private pilot attempted landing at the…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84475. 756 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 756 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375947&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.

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