# NTSB CEN20CA115: Mooney M20K, N3928H, New Orleans, LA, March 7, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 6, 2020, 22:43 local (Mar 7, 2020, 04:43 UTC)
- Place: New Orleans, LA
- Coordinates: 29.993333, -90.259162 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9933&lon=-90.2592&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 29, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101054
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101054/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101054
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA115

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper decision to turn the airplane from the runway onto the taxiway at an excessive speed, which resulted in a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and collision with a taxiway sign.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 M20K, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/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 M20K, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5870220), [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 M20K, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870220), [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 M20K, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, the air traffic tower controller requested that he "keep up the speed" and execute a "close approach" before landing. During the landing roll at night, the pilot attempted to exit the runway at an excessive speed, and the airplane "began to tilt to the right." He tried to steer the airplane back to the runway, but the airplane exited the runway and impacted a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, the tower controller requested he "keep up the speed" and to execute a "close approach" before the landing. During landing rollout at night, the pilot attempted to exit the runway at an excessive speed and the airplane "began to tilt to the right." He tried to steer the airplane back to the runway, but the airplane exited the runway and collided with a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3928H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3928H), registered now, S/N 25-0220 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Mooney M20K (No Series)
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-0220
- Year built: 1979
- Engines: Continental TSIO-360-6BCL 231 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2020
- Departed: BFM, Mobile, AL
- Destination: MSY, New Orleans, LA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MSY, Louis Armstrong New Orleans In, runway 02, 7,001 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 4, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6.3 total, 40.9 in this make and model, 47.2 as pilot in command, 18.5 in the last 90 days, 5.5 in the last 30 days, 5.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KMSY, 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).

- [Accident 20200306001739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200306001739A), Mar 6, 2020: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, New Orleans, LA, Substantial damage. Upon landing the pilot was trying to clear the runway for other traffic on approach. In his haste the to make the left hand turn onto the taxiway the excessive…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 7, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101054. 3.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Photo (item 2, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.

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