# NTSB DEN04CA117: Mooney M20K, N11640, Jackson Hole, WY, August 8, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 8, 2004, 16:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Jackson Hole, WY - Coordinates: 43.600555, -110.733612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6006&lon=-110.7336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards Field Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59854 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04CA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59854/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA117 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - runway light (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11640-2008-10-20), registration cancelled 2008-10-20, S/N 25-0682, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20K - Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-0682 - Airframe hours: 2655.8 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: minor; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040808016109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040808016109A), Aug 8, 2004: Mooney M20K, Jackson, WY, Substantial damage. (-23) While making his second approach to Jackson Wyoming airport, the pilot lost control of the aircraft during the flare and hit the runway lights with 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.