- Date
- March 18, 2012, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Clearwater, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9140MMooney M20M
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120318004149A
- Case key
- 83193
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to his distraction regarding another airplane in the traffic pattern.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, after entering the traffic pattern for landing, he noted that there were two other airplanes in the traffic pattern. As he announced his position on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he heard another pilot also announce his position at the same location. The accident pilot visually identified the other airplane, and that pilot reported that he would proceed behind the accident airplane to the runway. The accident pilot stated that he became preoccupied with locating the other airplane during the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and forgot to lower the landing gear. During touchdown, the propeller struck the runway, and the airplane skidded to a stop, which resulted in substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, after entering the traffic pattern for landing, he noted there were two other airplanes in the traffic pattern. As he announced his position on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he heard another pilot also announce his position at the same location. The accident pilot visually obtained the other airplane, whose pilot reported he would proceed behind the accident airplane to the runway. The accident pilot stated he became pre-occupied with locating the other airplane during the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, and forgot to lower the landing gear. During touchdown, the propeller struck the runway and the airplane skid to a stop resulting substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9140M
- Reported as
- Mooney M20M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 27-0083
- Airframe hours
- 1,960
- Engine
- Lycoming TI0-540 SER, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Donald Trizzino
- Registered owner
- Donald Trizzino
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 11, 2011
- Departed
- APF · Naples, FL
- Destination
- CLW · Clearwater, FL
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- CLW · Clearwater Air Park, runway 16, 3,500 × 75 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
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 1, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,841 total · 35 in this make and model · 8,700 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- PIE, 5 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 9.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.