# NTSB FTW98LA059: Mooney M20F, N2954L, Stuttgart, AR, November 27, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 27, 1997, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Stuttgart, AR - Coordinates: 34.489208, -91.550071 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4892&lon=-91.5501&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20491 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20491/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA059 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to activate the runway lights, which led to his selection of a closed/abandoned runway for the landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the unlatched cabin door, and the lack of lighting conditions at dusk. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal - door,passenger - unlatched (contributing factor) - airframe - vibration - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not operating (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - closed (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the cabin door popped open while in cruise flight approximately 10 minutes after takeoff. The pilot added that 'the airplane began to buffet and vibrate.' He further stated that 'the wind noise in the cabin made communications difficult' and the pilot's 12 year old son, who was seated in the right front seat, 'became excited and scared.' The pilot asked Little Rock Approach Control for a vector to the Stuttgart Municipal Airport to land and secure the cabin door. During arrival over the airport, the pilot circled the airport as he attempted to activate the pilot controlled runway lights by clicking on frequency 122.9; however, the pilot was unable to activate any of the runway lights. UNICOM frequency 122.8 MHz was listed as the published frequency to activate the runway lights. The pilot attempted to land on a runway that had been closed and abandoned for over 10 years; its surface was reported to have been partly torn off. ## Factual narrative On November 27, 1997, at 1730 central standard time, a Mooney M20F airplane, N2954L, was substantially damaged while landing near Stuttgart, Arkansas. The instrument rated commercial pilot and his 3 passengers were not injured. The airplane was owned by Tiger Investment Co., of Wilmington, Delaware, and was being operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight which originated at the De Witt Municipal Airport at 1700, with Little Rock, Arkansas, as its intended destination. An IFR flight plan was filed for the 53 nautical mile flight. The pilot reported that the cabin door popped open while in cruise flight approximately 10 minutes after takeoff. The pilot added that "the airplane began to buffet and vibrate." He further stated that "the wind noise in the cabin made communications difficult" and the pilot's 12 year old son, who was seated in the right front seat, "became excited and scared." The pilot asked Little Rock Approach Control for a vector to the Stuttgart Municipal Airport to land and secure the cabin door. Upon arriving over the airport, the pilot circled the airport as he attempted to activate the pilot controlled runway lights by clicking on frequency 122.9; however, the pilot was unable to activate any of the runway lights. The UNICOM frequency (122.8) is listed as the published frequency to activate the runway lights. Physical examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane touched down on a runway (04-22) that had been abandoned for over 10 years with sections of the hard surface reported as being "partly torn off." The imprint of the airplane's main landing gear was found on a portion of the abandoned runway west of runway 18-36. The airplane came to a stop after impacting a drainage ditch east of the taxiway connecting the airport's main ramp with runways 9 and 18. Official sunset was reported as 1700. The airport's windsock at the airport remains lit 24 hours a day. The recorded winds at the time of the accident were reported from 150 degrees at 10 knots. The airplane was attempting to land on abandoned runway 04 (040 degrees). On site examination of the 1967 model airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the nose and right main landing gear had collapsed and the right flap was destroyed. The right wing and the underside of the fuselage sustained structural damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: N2954L (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20F - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 670487 - Airframe hours: 4180 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Calvin A. Bohannon - Registered owner: Tiger Investment Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 1997, 71 hours before - Departed: 5M1, DE WITT, AR - Destination: LIT, LITTLE ROCK, AR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SGT, Stuttgart Municipal, runway 4 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 521 total, 187 in this make and model, 378 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 150° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SGT, 1 nm away ## 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 19971127046819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971127046819A), Nov 27, 1997: Mooney M20F, Stuttgart, AR, No damage. (-23) Cabin door popped open in flight. Aircraft was vectored to Stuttgart airport where pilot attempted to activate runway lights using the wrong frequency.… 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.