# NTSB ERA21LA041: Mooney M20C, N3296F, Laconia, NH, November 9, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 9, 2020, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Laconia, NH · Trees short of runway 26
- Coordinates: 43.576756, -71.403889 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5768&lon=-71.4039&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102263
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102263/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102263
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA041

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during an approach in sun glare and hazy conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Ceiling/visibility/precip: haze/smoke](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020/cases.md)
- [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot was attempting to land when he temporarily lost sight of the runway due to sun glare and haze. The airplane impacted trees short of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3296F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3296F-2021-08-19), registration cancelled 2021-08-19, S/N 670389, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 670389
- Airframe hours: 4279
- Engines: Lycoming A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 2020
- Departed: LWM, Lawrence, MA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: LCI, Laconia Municipal, runway 26, 5,890 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; seat: left; restraint: 3-point

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: LCI

## 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 20201109015679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201109015679A), Nov 9, 2020: Mooney M20F, Gilford, NH, Substantial damage. The pilot indicated that on Sunday November 8, 2020 that he had checked the weather for klci airport from internet web site for Monday nov 9 ,for his departure…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102263. 5.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11687370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11687998&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.

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