# NTSB ERA24LA317: Mooney M20J, N8201R, Montauk, NY, July 14, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 14, 2024, 14:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Montauk, NY · MTP Airport - Coordinates: 41.076667, -71.920472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0767&lon=-71.9205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - 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): 194743 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA317 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194743/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194743 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA317 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate glide path during the landing approach in terrain induced turbulence, resulting in a hard landing and subsequent runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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 M20J, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Turbulence: terrain induced turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/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: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while on final approach to the runway, after passing over some high terrain, he encountered turbulence, and the airplane began to sink “very fast.” The pilot increased engine power to arrest the sink rate, however, the airplane was too low resulting in a hard landing on the runway. After the hard landing, the pilot reported the airplane first went to the right, followed by a left turn and runway excursion into bushes. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the right aileron. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8201R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8201R-2025-11-01), registration cancelled 2025-11-01, S/N 24-0607, built 1978 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0607 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 1909.96 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 2023 - Departed: DXR, Danbury, CT - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MTP, Montauk, runway 24, 3,246 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review March 14, 2024; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 218.2 total, 42.1 in this make and model, 218.2 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: FOK, 34 nm away - METAR: METAR KFOK 171853Z 18010G16KT 10SM CLR 28/24 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP103 T02830239= ## 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 20240714009409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240714009409A), Jul 14, 2024: Mooney M20J, Montauk, NY, Substantial damage. On approach to kmtp runway 24 the aircraft experenced turbulence, landed hard veered off of the runway into the bushes. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194743. 22.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 21.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17716040&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20Pilot%27s%206120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record - pilot's email (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17715957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20MOR%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17716208&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20Photo%20Array%20Template-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.