# NTSB CEN14CA237: Mooney M20F, N343ED, Dowling, MI, May 11, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 11, 2014, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Dowling, MI - Coordinates: 42.473056, -85.232498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4731&lon=-85.2325&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89200 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89200/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89200 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA237 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain 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 M20F, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported the farm strip was aligned on a heading of approximately 090/270 and was 2,400 feet long. He was approaching from the west. As he cleared the obstacles he noticed he was descending faster than normal. He pulled the throttles to idle to land and was almost on the ground when he felt something like a wind shear. The pilot added power but as he got closer to the ground, the wind pushed the airplane toward the north side of the runway to the edge of the landing strip. As the airplane veered off the strip the wingtip collided with brush and the nose wheel broke. The pilot believed the airplane's wheels were on the ground at the time of the wind shear indicated by skid marks going sideways off the landing strip surface. The pilot obtained weather from WK Kellogg Airport (BTL) in Battle Creek, Michigan while enroute at approximately 1455. Prevailing winds were reported as 230 degrees at 10 knots. BTL reported prevailing winds from 220 degrees at 5 knots at 1753. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported the farm strip was aligned on a heading of approximately 090/270 and was 2,400 feet long. He was approaching from the west. As he cleared the obstacles he noticed he was descending faster than normal. He pulled the throttles to idle to land and was almost on the ground when he felt something like a wind shear. The pilot added power but as he got closer to the ground, the wind pushed the airplane toward the north side of the runway to the edge of the landing strip. As the airplane veered off the strip the wingtip collided with brush and the nose wheel broke. The pilot believed the airplane's wheels were on the ground at the time of the wind shear indicated by skid marks going sideways off the landing strip surface. The pilot obtained weather from WK Kellogg Airport (BTL) in Battle Creek, Michigan while enroute at approximately 1455. Prevailing winds were reported as 230 degrees at 10 knots. BTL reported prevailing winds from 220 degrees at 5 knots at 1753. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N343ED](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N343ED), registered now, S/N 680006, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 680006 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 2642 - Engines: LYCOMING I0360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2014 - Departed: I34, GREENSBURG, IN - Destination: Dowling, MI - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 7, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,581 total, 3,421 in this make and model, 49 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KBTL, 9 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 20140511024269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140511024269A), May 11, 2014: Mooney M20F, Dowling, MI, Substantial damage. 05/11/2014 @ 1600 Local, the PIC, [privacy data omitted],stated that he was flying his Mooney M20F, N343ED on a flight home to his Private grass strip in… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89200. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Accident Report 6120 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414216&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Accident%20Report%206120-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414217&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview-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.