# NTSB ERA24LA218: Mooney M20K, N3777, Conway, SC, May 3, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 3, 2024, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Conway, SC · HYW Airport - Coordinates: 33.828488, -79.122176 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8285&lon=-79.1222&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: 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): 194268 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA218 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194268/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194268 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA218 ## 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. - [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 M20K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/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 M20K, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane had just undergone an annual inspection and the pilot was returning to the airport after conducting a post-maintenance flight test. The pilot stated that he made a normal approach to land with both the flaps and landing gear extended. He further described that upon landing, the airplane settled to the runway, and skidded to a stop resulting in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed minor damage to the nose landing gear door and no damage to the main landing gear doors. The landing gear was subsequently cycled several times using both normal and emergency methods. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted that would have precluded normal operation of the landing gear system. Based on this information, it is most likely that the pilot landed the airplane with the landing gear still retracted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3777](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3777), registered now, S/N 25-0888, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20K - Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-0888 - Year built: 1985 - Airframe hours: 3221.4 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-NB 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wings Of Eagles - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: HYW, Conway-Horry County, runway 22, 4,400 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,850 total, 74 in this make and model, 4,175 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KHYW - METAR: METAR KHYW 032035Z AUTO 14007KT 10SM CLR 27/18 A3002 ## 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 20240503007979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240503007979A), May 3, 2024: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, Conway, SC, Substantial damage. Post annual maintenance test flight aircraft landed with the gear up. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194268. 7.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17471624&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20FINAL_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspectors written statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17471925&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Written%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 921 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17471314&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-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.