# NTSB DEN87LA073: Mooney M20C, N6550U, Wahpeton, ND, March 27, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 26, 1987, 18:30 local (Mar 27, 1987, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Wahpeton, ND
- Coordinates: 46.260581, -96.600517 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2606&lon=-96.6005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17180
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17180/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA073

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - runway (contributing factor)
  - checklist - not used, dual student (cause)
  - lack of recent total experience, dual student (cause)
  - checklist - not corrected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - lack of recent total experience, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - wheels up landing - inadvertent, dual student (cause)
  - complacency, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

A CFI AND A DUAL STUDENT WERE MAKING PRACTICE LANDINGS. ON THE SIXTH LANDING, THE STUDENT FAILED TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR. THE CFI DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE ACFT DID NOT HAVE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED. THE ACFT LANDED WITH GEAR FULLY RETRACTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6550U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6550U), registered now, S/N 2333, built 1963 (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: 2333
- Airframe hours: 3155
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gerry Beck
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1986, 3 hours before
- Departed: D63, WAHPETON, ND
- Airport: D63, Wahpeton Harry Stern, runway 15, 4,400 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 572 total, 32 in this make and model, 439 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 45 °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 19870326007529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870326007529A), Mar 26, 1987: Mooney M20C, Wahpeton, ND, Substantial damage. The pilot failed to lower the gear beore landing. The instructor failed to catch the mistake.

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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