# NTSB DEN02LA072: Mooney M20C, N6283U, Watkins, CO, June 30, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 30, 2002, 08:11 local (14:11 UTC)
- Place: Watkins, CO
- Coordinates: 39.786388, -104.549446
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7864&lon=-104.5494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55183
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55183/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55183
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA072

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to use the pre-landing checklist, resulting in an inadvertent wheels up landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - checklist - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The purpose of the flight was to practice touch-and-go landings. The pilot said he "forgot to put the gear down" and landed wheels up, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On June 30, 2002, at 0811 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N6283U, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it landed gear up at Front Range Airport (FTG), Watkins, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Front Range Airport at 0755.

In a telephone interview and reiterated in his accident report, the pilot said that the purpose of the flight was to practice touch-and-go landings. He said he "forgot to put the gear down" when he made his first approach to runway 26 and landed wheels up. Damage consisted of a bent propeller, scraped panels underneath the airplane, a broken antenna, and bent ribs.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6283U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6283U), registered now, S/N 2122, built 1962 (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: 2122
- Airframe hours: 2528.5
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Roger L. Keithley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 2001, 68.6 hours before
- Departed: FTG, Watkins, CO
- Airport: FTG, Front Range, runway 26, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 139 total, 59 in this make and model, 85 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: DEN, 9 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 20020630023349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020630023349A), Jun 30, 2002: Mooney M20C, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was practicing touch and go landings and forgot to put the landing gear down. The pilot has new certificate and very few hours.

## Other investigations on N6283U (1)

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 CHI66F0177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0177), Aug 16, 1965: Mooney M20C (N6283U), Lapeer, MI, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55183. 408 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 287 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447817&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40169186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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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