# NTSB ERA23LA314: Mooney M20R, N62GH, Chattanooga, TN, July 26, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 26, 2023, 14:00 UTC - Place: Chattanooga, TN - Coordinates: 35.036704, -85.202306 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0367&lon=-85.2023&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - 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): 192723 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA314 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192723/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192723 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA314 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper glidepath during final approach, which resulted in a collision with the approach lights short of the runway. Contributing was the pilot’s distraction due to the cabin door opening. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and the flight instructor were climbing out after departing from the airport when the cabin door suddenly opened. The flight instructor tried to close the door but could not get it closed properly. The pilot subsequently returned to the airport to land. During the landing approach, the pilot was distracted, flew too low, and the airplane contacted several approach lights short of the runway threshold. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62GH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62GH), registered now, S/N 29-0190, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20R - Registry model: [Mooney M20R](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20r) (registry code 5870225) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29-0190 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 1509 - Engines: Continental IO-550 200 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mooney 62gh LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 2023 - Airport: CHA, Lovell Fld, runway 20, 7,400 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,100 total, 20 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 80; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 12, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 8,141 total, 591 in this make and model, 7,938 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: CHA - METAR: KCHA 261353Z 00000KT 10SM SCT120 27/22 A3018 RMK AO2 SLPNO T02720218 $ ## 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 20230726014739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230726014739A), Jul 26, 2023: Mooney M20R, Chattanooga, TN, Substantial damage. Door came open in-flight on climb out. Aircraft remained in pattern and came back around for landing. Hit approach light system and came to stop about 900 feet… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192723. 7.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16069430&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16046469&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16046402&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-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.