# NTSB CEN17LA198: Mooney M20J, N211ZN, Lakeway, TX, May 28, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 28, 2017, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Lakeway, TX - Coordinates: 30.3575, -97.994445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3575&lon=-97.9944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 95246 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95246/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95246 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA198 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impaired vision due to his broken eyeglasses. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Sensory ability/limitation: visual function](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011510): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011510/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011510/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 M20J, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that, during the flight, the right lens fell out of his eyeglasses. Aware of powerlines at the approach end of the runway, and with his vision impaired, he flew a higher than normal landing approach to ensure obstacle clearance. The airplane subsequently landed long, exited the end of the runway, and impacted a stone mailbox, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 28, 2017, about 1200 central daylight time, a Mooney M20J airplane, N211ZN, impacted ground objects during a runway excursion on runway 34 at the Lakeway Airpark (3R9), near Lakeway, Texas. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial wing damage. The airplane was registered to Yarbrough Southwest Corp. and was operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Tierra Linda Ranch Airport, near Kerrville, Texas, about 1139 and was destined for 3R9.According to the pilot, his glasses broke during the flight. The right lens screw fell out, which caused the lens to separate from the frame and fall out away from his reach. Aware of power lines at the south end of the field, the pilot elected to fly a higher glidepath than normal and proceed into the landing sequence higher than was normal due to his now restricted vision, so as to assure clearance of the power lines. The airplane landed long. The pilot subsequently recognized that the airplane was long of the desired touchdown point and elected not to go around due to concern of obstacles in the area. Due to the long landing, the airplane continued off the runway and its left wing impacted a stone mailbox. The pilot's report indicated that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions. The pilot's report indicated "unknown" for his medical certificate. Federal Aviation Administration records revealed that the pilot's last medical certificate was dated December 18, 2007. The pilot's safety recommendation was "to purchase corrective lenses with frames that will not allow a lens to fall out" and to "bring an additional set of glasses when flying." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N211ZN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N211ZN), registered now, S/N 24-1535, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1535 - Year built: 1985 - Airframe hours: 2302 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550-A4B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2017 - Departed: 60TE, KERRVILLE, TX - Destination: 3R9, LAKEWAY, TX - Airport: 3R9, Lakeway Airpark, runway 34, 3,930 × 70 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 24, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,534 total, 3,100 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KRYW, 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 20170528021049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170528021049A), May 28, 2017: Mooney M20J, Austin, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot approached the runway high and fast, landing approximatly 400 feet from the end of the runway. The aircraft overran the runway, went across a golf… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95246. 798 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 735 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Communication Summary Inspector Fortmann (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454463&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Communication%20Summary%20Inspector%20Fortmann-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.