# NTSB CHI91LA013: Mooney M20/231, N1002X, Stockton, MO, October 19, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 18, 1990, 21:45 local (Oct 19, 1990, 02:45 UTC)
- Place: Stockton, MO
- Coordinates: 37.690364, -93.790397 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6904&lon=-93.7904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14944
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14944/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA013

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VSO (MINIMUM CONTROLLABLE AIRSPEED) IN A LANDING CONFIGURATION. AN ASSOCIATED FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night
  - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED HE SAW TREES ABOUT 20 FEET BELOW THE AIRPLANE WHILE ON A NIGHT LANDING APPROACH. HE SAID THAT HE PITCHED THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE UP TO INCREASE THE CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES AND IMMEDIATELY HEARD THE STALL WARNING HORN. HE ADDED POWER, AND THEN 'CUT POWER' AS HE REACHED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED ITS RAPID RATE OF DESCENT AND LANDED HARD. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF HE HAD ELECTED TO DO A GO-AROUND, OR IF HE HAD NOT PITCHED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE UPWARDS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1002X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20/231
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-0556
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-LB1 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Edwards Flying Svc
- Departed: IOW, IOWA CITY, IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: M043, Stockton Muni, runway 19, 3,060 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 878 total, 834 in this make and model, 779 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point -0 °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 19901018051229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901018051229A), Oct 18, 1990: Mooney M20K, Stockton, MO, Substantial damage. Saw trees near on short final. Pulled up adding partial power. Settled hard to runway.

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.