# NTSB ERA22LA020: Mooney M20C, N669GJ, Lynchburg, VA, October 17, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 17, 2021, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Lynchburg, VA - Coordinates: 37.318374, -79.205609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3184&lon=-79.2056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - 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): 104130 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104130/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104130 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA020 ## Probable cause The uncommanded landing gear retraction following a hard landing for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=5870208), [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 collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he extended the landing gear while performing a 360º turn to lose altitude on final approach and verified that it was down and locked. Upon landing, the landing gear retracted, and the airplane skidded to a stop on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. A witness waiting to depart stated that the landing gear was down and the airplane appeared to land harder than usual in the gusting conditions. The airplane bounced twice, and on the second bounce, while the airplane was airborne, the landing gear retracted into the up position. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the gear lever was in the retracted position and the landing gear functioned normally. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that on a previous flight, the landing gear lever became unlatched and during all subsequent flights, he would forcefully jerk on the lever to ensure it was latched. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N669GJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N669GJ-2025-05-27), registration cancelled 2025-05-27, S/N 1946, built 1961 (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: 1946 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 4356 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 21, 2020, 30 hours before - Departed: JZP, Jasper, GA - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LYH, Lynchburg Rgnl/Preston Glenn Fld, runway 04, 7,100 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review February 8, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 850 total, 154 in this make and model, 730 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: LYH - METAR: KLYH 171554Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 17/02 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP176 T01670017 ## 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 20211017017139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211017017139A), Oct 17, 2021: Mooney M20C, Lynchburg, VA, Substantial damage. Hard landing on runway 04 and the landing gear retracted. Aircraft slid 860 feet on underside of fuselage causing substantial damage to fuselage frame. ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104130. 9.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12887357&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA020%20Signed%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12887555&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 562 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13884969&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 570 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12887927&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Witness%20Email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Assistant airport director statement (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 585 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12887093&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Airport%20Operations%20Manager_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 6, PDF, 7 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12887020&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12887581&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-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. --- 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.