# NTSB DEN00LA171: Taylorcraft 20, N1036G, Moriarty, NM, September 15, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 15, 2000, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Moriarty, NM - Coordinates: 34.99905, -106.040214 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9990&lon=-106.0402&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50268 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50268/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA171 ## Probable cause The pilot prematurely flaring the airplane, resulting in a hard landing, and causing a loss of directional control. Factors were excessive airspeed and the crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - premature, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - high, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered ## Analysis The pilot said he landed on runway 8 into a 5 to 8 knot crosswind from the southeast. His airspeed was 'a little fast and [he] dropped the airplane hard on the runway.' It bounced, settled back onto the runway, then veered sharply to the left. Despite full right rudder input, the airplane exited the runway, ground looped to the left, and slid sideways, collapsing the right main landing gear. According to an FAA inspector who examined the accident site, the pilot landed on runway 26. ## Factual narrative On September 15, 2000, approximately 1530 mountain daylight time, a Taylorcraft 20, N1036G, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while landing at Moriarty, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and a commercial certificated flight instructor-passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot did not file a flight plan for this personal cross country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Grand Canyon, Arizona, approximately 1200. According to telephone conversations with the pilot and his accident report, he was flying the airplane from Kenai, Alaska, to Florida. He and his passenger had stopped for fuel at Grand Canyon, Arizona, and were en route to Las Vegas, New Mexico, but thunderstorms caused them to divert to Moriarty. The pilot said he landed on runway 8 into a 5 to 8 knot crosswind from the southeast. His airspeed was "a little fast and [he] dropped the airplane hard on the runway." It bounced, settled back onto the runway, then veered sharply to the left. Despite full right rudder input, the airplane exited the runway, ground looped to the left, and slid sideways, collapsing the right main landing gear. According to an FAA inspector who examined the accident site, the pilot landed on runway 26. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1036G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1036G-2018-05-03), registration cancelled 2018-05-03, S/N 20-036 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft 20 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft 20](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-20) (registry code 8851002) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-036 - Airframe hours: 747 - Engines: Continental O-470-J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lewis E. Witt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 2000 - Departed: GCN, GRAND CANYON, AZ - Destination: 0E0 - Airport: 0E0, Moriarty, runway 26, 7,700 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 390 total, 35 in this make and model, 313 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CQC, 20 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 20000915014419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000915014419A), Sep 15, 2000: Tcraft 20, Moriarty, NM, No damage. (-23) On September 15, 2000, at approx. 1530 MDT, a Taylorcraft, tcrafk-20-20, N1036G, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged whe n the… 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.