# NTSB FTW87LA159: Mooney M20J, N56420, Dallas, TX, July 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 5, 1987, 17:32 local (22:32 UTC)
- Place: Dallas, TX
- Coordinates: 32.970981, -96.799797 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9710&lon=-96.7998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22392
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87LA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22392/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87LA159

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN ON RUNWAY 15, THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING CAME UP SHARPLY, DUE TO A GUSTING CROSS WIND, CAUSING THE LEFT WING TO STRIKE THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN CARTWHEELED, LEFT WING, NOSE, RIGHT WING, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. REPORTED WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE FROM 170 DEGREES AT 16 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 28 KNOTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56420](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56420-1991-03-26), registration cancelled 1991-03-26, S/N 241380 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1380
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: North Dallas Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LAW, LAWTON, OK
- Destination: ADS, DALLAS, TX
- Airport: ADS, Addison Airpark, runway 15, 7,199 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 16 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19870705032209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870705032209A), Jul 5, 1987: Mooney M20J, Dallas, TX, Substantial damage. Right wing came up from wind gust on flare. Left wing hit ground and aircraft cartwheeled. Came to rest on taxiway

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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