# NTSB FTW95LA024: Mooney M20C, N6958V, Greeley, CO, October 21, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 21, 1994, 09:05 local (15:05 UTC)
- Place: Greeley, CO
- Location: 40.4374° N, 104.6332° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GREELEY-WELD COUNTY (GXY), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4374&lon=-104.6332&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19287
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19287/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA024

## Probable cause

INADVERTENT LANDING GEAR RETRACTION BY THE PILOT FLYING THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR WAS INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - gear retraction - inadvertent, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, ON A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING, THE PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION INADVERTENTLY RAISED THE LANDING GEAR INSTEAD OF THE FLAPS.

## Factual narrative

On October 21, 1994, at 0905 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N6958V, sustained substantial damage during takeoff at Greeley-Weld County Airport, Greeley, Colorado.  The two pilots were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local instructional flight and no flight plan was filed.

According to both pilots, they were conducting touch and go landings with the pilot in the left seat under instruction and flying the aircraft.  During takeoff roll, on a touch-and-go, and after applying takeoff power, the pilot under instruction inadvertently retracted the landing gear instead of the flaps.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6958V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6958V), registered now, S/N 20-1191, built 1976 (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: 20-1191
- Airframe hours: 4662
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aero-West Flying Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 1994, 80 hours before
- Departed: GXY
- Destination: GXY, CO
- Airport: GXY, Greeley-Weld County, runway 9, 6,200 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,800 total, 400 in this make and model, 3,620 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GXY, 1 nm away

## Other investigations on N6958V (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN04LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA065), Mar 13, 2004: Mooney M20C (N6958V), Clovis, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making during an instrument approach resulting in the pilot's intentional descent below approach minimums, and the pilot's failure to maintain…

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.