DEN04CA117

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20K · Jackson Hole, WY · August 8, 2004

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 8, 2004, 16:40 local (22:40 UTC)
Place
Jackson Hole, WY
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N11640Mooney M20K
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 28, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA Flight Standards Field Office
FAA report
20040808016109A
Case key
59854

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in a stall/mush. Contributing factors include the windshear, the crosswind and the runway light.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightLanding - flare/touchdown
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Weather condition - windshearFactor
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Object - runway lightFactor
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

According to the pilot, he had attempted to land on runway 19 but had performed a go-around because of windshear approximately 15 to 20 feet agl. During the second attempt to land, he increased his airspeed to compensate for the wind. The pilot reported that during the landing flare "the bottom dropped out." He increased power to go around but the airplane continued to sink. The airplane drifted to the left and subsequently struck a runway light causing substantial damage. The Automated Weather Observation System reported the winds at 1640 as 210 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot estimated that the winds at the time of the accident were 250 degrees at 10 to 15 knots.

Factual narrative

On August 8, 2004, at approximately 1640 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20K, N11640, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while landing at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at Riverton, Wyoming, at 1520.

According to a telephone interview with the pilot, he said he had attempted to land on runway 19 but had performed a go-around because of windshear approximately 15 to 20 feet agl. During the second attempt to land, he increased his airspeed to compensate for the wind. The pilot reported that during the landing flare "the bottom dropped out." He increased power to go around but the airplane continued to sink. The airplane drifted to the left and subsequently struck a runway light. Both wings were bent, the landing gear collapsed and the fuselage was wrinkled.

The Jackson Hole Automated Weather Observation System reported the winds at 1640 as 210 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot estimated that the winds at the time of the accident were 250 degrees at 10 to 15 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N11640
Reported as
Mooney M20K
Category
Airplane
Serial number
25-0682
Airframe hours
2,655.8
Engine
Continental TSIO-360, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 1, 2003
Departed
RIW · Riverton, WY
Destination
JAC · Jackson Hole, WY
Airport
JAC · Jackson Hole, runway 19, 6,300 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
37
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
January 14, 2004
Seat
Left
Flight hours
150 total · 65 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 6 knots, gusting 15
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 28 °F
Altimeter
30.31 inHg
Observed at
JAC, 1 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.