# NTSB CEN12LA485: Mooney M20E, N2609W, Englewood, CO, July 19, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 2012, 11:09 local (17:09 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.570278, -104.849441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5703&lon=-104.8494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA -- Denver Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 84472 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA485 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84472/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84472 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA485 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during landing. ## 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 M20E, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 M20E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane started to veer to the left during the landing roll. His attempts to use right rudder/steering input and asymmetric braking to maintain control were unsuccessful. The airplane subsequently departed the runway and encountered wet, muddy ground and then nosed over in a ditch. A postaccident examination of the nosewheel steering and the main landing gear brakes did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a loss of directional control. Airport operations personnel noted that the wind was light and the runway pavement was dry at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 2012, about 1109 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20E, N2609W, was substantially damaged during a runway excursion while landing on runway 28 at the Centennial Airport (APA), Englewood, Colorado. The pilot and sole passenger were not injured. 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 was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from Pioneer Village Field Airport, Minden, Nebraska, about 0815. The pilot reported that the airplane started to veer to the left while landing. His attempts to use right rudder/steering input and asymmetric braking to maintain control were unsuccessful. The airplane subsequently departed the runway pavement and encountered a ditch before coming to rest. He noted that the ground adjacent to the runway was muddy, which caused the airplane to yaw and increased the departure angle from the runway. In his written statement, the pilot noted there might have been a brake malfunction that precipitated the event. An airport operations representative stated that the airplane departed the south side of runway 28 about 1,000 feet from the arrival end. It came to rest about 100 yards off the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed during the accident sequence. He noted that the wind was light and the pavement was dry at the time of the accident. A postaccident examination revealed that the right wing spar was deformed in the area of the landing gear side brace attachment bracket, which would require a repair. Examination of the nosewheel steering and main landing gear brakes did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a loss of directional control. At 1053, the recorded wind at APA was variable at 3 knots. At 1153, the recorded wind was from 140 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 16 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2609W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2609W-2018-02-12), registration cancelled 2018-02-12, S/N 956, built 1965 (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: 956 - Airframe hours: 3905 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 2012 - Departed: 0V3, Minden, NE - Destination: APA, Denver, CO - Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 28, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 25, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 5,507 total, 970 in this make and model, 3,613 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: APA, 1 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). - [Incident 20120719014489I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120719014489I), Jul 19, 2012: Mooney M20E, Centennial, CO, Minor damage. On 7/19/12 1709Z, N2609W, M020, landed kapa rwy 28, veered off rwy to left, 2 POB, no inj, min dmg. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84472. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 975 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Conversation Record -- Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Conversation Record -- Airport Operations (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375463&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20Airport%20Operations-Master.PDF - Conversation Record -- Mechanic (item 4, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375464&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20Mechanic-Master.PDF - Conversation Record -- FAA Inspector (item 5, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375465&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20FAA%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.