# NTSB ERA10CA412: Mooney M20M, N9153Z, Poughkeepsie, NY, August 9, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 8, 2010, 20:50 local (Aug 9, 2010, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Poughkeepsie, NY - Coordinates: 41.626388, -73.884162 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6264&lon=-73.8842&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Teterboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76914 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA412 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76914/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76914 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA412 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing, loss of directional control and runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Electrical power system: alternator-generator drive sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure; cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410/cases.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he received an instrument flight rules clearance from air traffic control for a night global positioning system approach to runway 24 at his destination airport. Upon reaching the final approach fix, he turned the landing lights on, lowered the landing gear and extended the flaps to the full down position. He observed both alternator lights flicker, then remain illuminated. He continued the approach and flared the airplane higher than normal. The airplane landed hard and bounced several times. The pilot lost directional control of the airplane, and it departed the left side of the runway and came to rest upright in the grass. Examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the landing gear, right wing, and fuselage, consistent with ground impact. Weather, about the time of the accident, included clear skies and winds from 190 degrees true at 8 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated he received an instrument flight rules clearance from air traffic control for a night global positioning system approach to runway 24 at his destination airport. Upon reaching the final approach fix, he turned the landing lights on, lowered the landing gear and extended the flaps to the full down position. He observed both alternator lights flicker, then remain illuminated. He continued the approach and flared the airplane higher than normal. The airplane landed hard and bounced several times. The pilot lost directional control of the airplane, and it departed the left side of the runway and came to rest upright in the grass. Examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the landing gear, right wing, and fuselage, consistent with ground impact. Weather, about the time of the accident, included clear skies and winds from 190 degrees true at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9153Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9153Z), registered now, S/N 27-0209, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20M - Registry model: [Mooney M20M](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20m) (registry code 5870222) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-0209 - Airframe hours: 1022 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Demitri Alden - Registered owner: Lady Bird of Rhinebeck LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 26, 2010, 84 hours before - Departed: HTO, East Hampton, NY - Destination: POU, PoughKeepsie, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: POU, Dutchess County Airport, runway 24, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review July 29, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 17 in this make and model, 314 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 190° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: POU ## 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 20100808040629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100808040629A), Aug 8, 2010: Mooney M20M, Poughkeepsie, NY, Substantial damage. On August 8, 2010 subject airman was performing a normal GPS instrument approach during VFR conditions to runway 24 at Dutchess County Airport (kpou). During… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76914. 546 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 430 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334916&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statements (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335045&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statements-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.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. --- 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.