# NTSB CEN17LA184: Mooney M20E, N9265M, Dowling, MI, May 15, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 2017, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Dowling, MI - Coordinates: 42.471942, -85.230278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4719&lon=-85.2303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Flight instrument malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/334) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95176 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95176/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95176 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA184 ## Probable cause Innacurate airspeed indications due to contamination of the pitot-static system with insect remains, which resulted in a high approach and landing speed and subsequent runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Navigation system: pitot/static system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023411): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023411/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023411/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: Flight instrument malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/334) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/334/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/334/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) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that, during the flight, the airspeed indicator displayed a lower than normal airspeed. The pilot landed the airplane at an intermediate airport to drop off a passenger, then continued to his home airport, a privately-owned, 2,000-ft-long turf runway. During the first attempted landing, the airplane would not "settle," and the pilot initiated a go-around. During the second landing, the airplane floated again, consistent with a higher-than-indicated airspeed, and the pilot "forced" the airplane onto the runway. The airplane porpoised and continued off the runway, hitting trees, a fence, and a pole, resulting in substantial damage. During postaccident examination, the remains of an insect were found in the pitot tube. A functional test of the airspeed indicator revealed no anomalies. It is likely that the inaccurate airspeed indications were due to the contamination of the pitot static system, which subsequently resulted in a high approach and landing speed and subsequent runway overrun. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 2017, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20E airplane, N9265M, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees, a fence, and a pole, while landing at a private grass airstrip near Dowling, Michigan. The private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed W K Kellogg Airport (BTL), Battle Creek, Michigan, and was en route to the private airstrip.According to the pilot, during the flight the airspeed indicator did not indicate as high as it normally would. He landed uneventfully at BTL to drop off a passenger and then continued to the private airstrip (2,000 feet by 120 feet, grass) for a full-stop landing. While on final approach, the pilot decreased airspeed to 70 miles per hour (mph); however, the airplane would not settle so he initiated a go around. During the second attempt to land, the pilot decreased airspeed to 60 mph, but the airplane still would not land. The pilot stated that he "forced" the airplane to land. During touchdown the airplane porpoised and continued off of the runway hitting trees, a fence, and a pole. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspectors who responded to the accident, the left main landing gear and nose gear collapsed. The right wing sustained substantial impact damage to the leading edge and the spar. The pitot tube separated from the airplane and could not be functionally tested. During the examination of the pitot static system debris was recovered from the pitot tube that appeared organic in nature, consistent with the remains of an insect. A functional test of the airspeed indicator revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9265M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9265M), registered now, S/N 1208, built 1966 (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: 1208 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 3224.6 - Engines: LYCOMING I0-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2017 - Departed: BTL, Battle Creek, MI - Destination: Dowling, MI - Airport: NA, Private, runway 9, 2,000 × 120 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 19, 2016; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,723 total, 3,552 in this make and model, 3,523 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 10.6 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: BTL, 10 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 20170515003959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170515003959A), May 15, 2017: Mooney M20E, Dowling, MI, Substantial damage. On may 15, 2017 at approximately 1330 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20E aircraft, N9265M, registered to and operated by a private pilot, received… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95176. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 919 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456700&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Kobe (item 2, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456701&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Kobe-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspectors (item 3, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456702&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspectors-Master.PDF - Airspeed Indicator Bench Test (item 4, .PDF, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456703&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airspeed%20Indicator%20Bench%20Test-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.