# NTSB CHI83LA131: Mooney M20C, N5587Q, Solon Springs, WI, March 10, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 9, 1983, 23:15 local (Mar 10, 1983, 05:15 UTC)
- Place: Solon Springs, WI
- Coordinates: 46.340152, -91.820556 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3402&lon=-91.8206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12104
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12104/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA131

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
- Overrun, landing - roll
  - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE DEPARTED SOLON SPRINGS, WI AT 2100 CST, THE WEATHER WAS WINDY, BUT THE SKY WAS CLEAR. HE LANDED AT MINNEAPOLIS, MN TO PICK UP A PASSENGER, THEN DEPARTED ON A RETURN FLIGHT TO SOLON. WHILE RETURNING, HE ENCOUNTERED SNOW. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING ARRIVAL, HE TRIED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 1, BUT COULD NOT PICK UP THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY DUE TO THE DARKNESS AND CROSSWIND. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT LANDING LIGHT WAS NOT DIRECTED ONTO THE RUNWAY IN THE RIGHT CROSSWIND. THE PILOT THEN ELECTED TO LAND DOWNWIND ON RUNWAY 19. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 030 DEG AT 20, GUSTING 30 KTS. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT SLID OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, WHICH WAS WET, AND COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5587Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5587Q-2024-07-13), registration cancelled 2024-07-13, S/N 2982, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2982
- Airframe hours: 3858
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James L. Staelens
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1982, 154 hours before
- Departed: MSP, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
- Destination: 3D9, SOLON SPRINGS, WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 3D9, Solon Springs, runway 19, 3,000 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,473 total, 717 in this make and model, 5,363 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 9 °F

## 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 19830309009259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830309009259A), Mar 9, 1983: Mooney M20C, Solon Springs, WI, Substantial damage. Landed with a quartering 30 mph tail wind. Struck a snowbank 200 feet from departure end of the runway.

## Other investigations on N5587Q (2)

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.

- [NTSB ERA23LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA120), Jan 28, 2023: Mooney M20C (N5587Q), Calhoun, GA, destroyed. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power during the initial climb due to an improperly installed spark plug.
- [NTSB MKC70FCA03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC70FCA03), Mar 12, 1970: Mooney M20C (N5587Q), Morehouse, MO, substantial damage

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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