# NTSB ERA12CA247: Mooney M20J, N58135, Butler, PA, March 23, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 23, 2012, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Butler, PA - Coordinates: 40.77639, -79.95111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7764&lon=-79.9511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83200 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83200/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83200 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA247 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, when he returned to the airport after a local flight, two airplanes were in the traffic pattern and a third airplane was inbound about 10 miles east. To sequence with the two airplanes in the pattern and the third airplane on the extended downwind leg, the pilot did not enter the traffic pattern at the midpoint of the downwind leg, but entered the traffic pattern closer to the approach end of the intended runway. He lowered the flaps, but did not lower the landing gear. He turned onto the base leg, extended full flaps, and then turned onto final approach. While on final approach, the pilot had a sense that the airplane was fast and that the “sight picture” was lower than usual, but he did not detect that the landing gear was retracted or recall hearing the landing gear warning horn. He heard the propeller contact the runway and attempted to lower the landing gear, but it was too late. He heard the landing gear warning horn after the airplane came to rest. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a main stringer and leading edge rib inside the right wing were damaged. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that after departure he proceeded to the local practice area then elected to return. Two airplanes were in the traffic pattern and a third airplane was about 10 miles to the east inbound. In order to sequence with the 2 airplanes in the pattern and the third airplane on the extended downwind, he entered the traffic pattern close to the approach end of the intended runway rather than midfield downwind. He lowered the flaps, but “…failed to lower the gear at the ‘key’ point….” He turned onto base where he extended full flaps then turned onto final approach. While on final approach he had a sense that the airplane was fast, but did not detect that the landing gear was retracted. He continued the approach and sensed that the sight picture was lower than usual, but did not recall hearing the landing gear warning horn. He heard the propeller contact the runway and attempted to lower the landing gear but it was too late. He heard the landing gear warning horn after the airplane came to rest. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed a main stringer and leading edge rib inside the right wing were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N58135](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N58135), registered now, S/N 24-1567, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1567 - Airframe hours: 1060 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Brubaker Clifford E - Registered owner: Brubaker Clifford E - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 2012 - Departed: BTP, Butler, PA - Destination: BTP, Butler, PA - Airport: BTP, Butler County Airport, runway 08, 4,801 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 2, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,192 total, 111 in this make and model, 1,192 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: BTP ## 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 20120323011789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120323011789A), Mar 23, 2012: Mooney M20J, Butler, PA, Substantial damage. On site investigation at the Butler county / k w Scholter field (btp) revealed the following facts:the aircraft had initial propeller strikes on runway 8 at… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83200. 9.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 752 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366500&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversations (item 3, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367070&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Digital Picture Provided by Pilot. View Depicting the Airplane Where it Came to Rest and Damage to the Right Wing. (item 4, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366493&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Picture%20Provided%20by%20Pilot.%20View%20Depicting%20the%20Airplane%20Where%20it%20Came%20to%20Rest%20and%20Damage%20to%20the%20Right%20Wing.-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Digital Picture Provided by Airquest Aviation. Close-Up View of the Damage to the Right Wing. (item 5, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Digital%20Picture%20Provided%20by%20Airquest%20Aviation.%20Close-Up%20View%20of%20the%20Damage%20to%20the%20Right%20Wing.-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Digital Picture Provided by Airquest Aviation. Close-Up View of the Damage to a Stringer and Rib Inside the Right Wing. (item 6, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367073&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Digital%20Picture%20Provided%20by%20Airquest%20Aviation.%20Close-Up%20View%20of%20the%20Damage%20to%20a%20Stringer%20and%20Rib%20Inside%20the%20Right%20Wing.-Master.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.