# NTSB FTW98LA224: Mooney M20F, N6444Q, Telluride, CO, May 17, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 1998, 18:30 local (May 17, 1998, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Telluride, CO - Coordinates: 37.940273, -107.899978 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9403&lon=-107.9000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20610 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20610/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA224 ## Probable cause The pilot exceeded the crosswind capability performance of the aircraft, and his delayed response in initiating a go around. Factors were gusty, crosswind and tailwind conditions, and high density altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - compensation for wind conditions - not performed, pilot in command - aircraft performance,crosswind capability - exceeded (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis According to the pilot, he contacted the airport for a weather advisory prior to landing and was told that the winds were favoring runway 9. Prior to touchdown, he received a report on the radio that the wind had shifted to 220 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots. The airplane touched down and as it was rolling out, the aircraft became airborne. The pilot applied full power and retracted the landing gear. He flew the aircraft approximately half way down the runway at about 20 feet above the ground, hit the ground, bounced once, then landed in a drainage ditch. Calculated density altitude at the time was 11,041 feet above mean sea level, and the angle between the runway and the wind was 130 degrees. Given the reported wind speed of 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots, the crosswind and tailwind component values fall off the wind component chart. The values at the chart limits are 12 knots and 10 knots respectively. According to Mooney Aircraft Flight Test, the demonstrated cross wind component is 13 knots and there is no demonstrated tail wind component. The propeller was destroyed, and the wings and lower fuselage sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 1998, at 1830 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20F, N6444Q, settled onto the ground during a go-around from a balked landing at Telluride Regional Airport, Telluride, Colorado. The private pilot and sole occupant was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this cross-country flight which originated from Moscow, Kansas, at 1530. No flight plan was filed. According to the pilot's accident report, he contacted the airport for a weather advisory prior to landing and was told that the winds were favoring runway 9. He flew over the airport and noted the wind direction indicator favored runway 9 as the recommended runway. While on final approach, he added full flaps and established an approach speed of 90 mph. Prior to touchdown, he received another report on the radio that the wind had shifted to 220 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots. Calculated density altitude at the time was 11,041 feet above mean sea level, and the angle between the runway and the wind was 130 degrees. Given the reported wind speed of 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots, the crosswind and tailwind component values fall off the wind component chart. The values at the chart limits are 12 knots and 10 knots respectively. (See attached wind component chart.) According to Mooney Aircraft Flight Test, the demonstrated cross wind component is 13 knots and there is no demonstrated tail wind component. According to witnesses, the airplane touched down and as it was rolling out, the "aircraft suddenly became airborne [about 35 feet] in a nose down configuration." The pilot applied full power and retracted the landing gear. He "flew the aircraft approximately half way down the runway at about 20 feet above the ground, 10 feet left of the runway," then hit the ground. According to the airport manager, the airplane bounced twice after landing. The pilot added power and raised the landing gear. The aircraft then struck taxiway A2, approximately 4,800 feet from the approach end of runway 9. He bounced once, then landed in a drainage ditch. According to the aircraft owners' manual, "the base leg should be flown at 90 mph. Upon turning final...the aircraft will glide hands-off at approximately 80 mph." Additionally, the manual states, "under no circumstances should the aircraft be allowed to touch down in a nose-low attitude or at too high an airspeed." Post accident examination of the aircraft revealed that the propeller was destroyed, and the wings and lower fuselage sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6444Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6444Q-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N 670523, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20F - Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 670523 - Airframe hours: 2500 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Geoffrey C. Norris - Registered owner: Norris & Son Grain, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 1997, 150 hours before - Departed: KS49, MOSCOW, KS - Destination: TEX - Airport: TEX, Telluride Regional, runway 9, 6,870 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 925 total, 264 in this make and model, 872 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19980516016159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980516016159A), May 16, 1998: Mooney M20F, Telluride, CO, Substantial damage. (.4)According to the pilot, he contacted the airport for a weather advisory prior to landing and was told that the winds were favoring runway 9. Prior to… 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.