# NTSB CHI85LA330: Mooney M20J, N57275, Lansing, IL, August 3, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 1985, 19:40 local (Aug 3, 1985, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Lansing, IL
- Coordinates: 41.559688, -87.539054 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5597&lon=-87.5391&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13177
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85LA330
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13177/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA330

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - physical impairment, pilot in command
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ONE OF THE PILOT'S EYES BECAME IRRITATED. HE ATTEMPTED TO SCRATCH IT ON SHORT FINAL. A HARD LANDING RESULTED. THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE & THE PILOT ADDED POWER. HIS GLASSES BECAME DISLODGED. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN CONTROL AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEADING TOWARD PAKRED AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID THE ENSUING COLLISION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N57275 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 241437
- Airframe hours: 137
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Rcd Aviation Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1985
- Airport: 3HA, Lansing Muni.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 832 total, 147 in this make and model, 751 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 45° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MDW

## 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 19850802036149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850802036149A), Aug 2, 1985: Mooney M20J, Lansing, IL, Substantial damage. Attempted go around when glasses fell off. Control was lost and aircraft struck two parked aircraft after a bounce.

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.