# NTSB FTW98LA246: Mooney M20F, N6476Q, Moriarty, NM, May 24, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 1998, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Moriarty, NM - Coordinates: 35.000377, -106.039794 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0004&lon=-106.0398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20630 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20630/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA246 ## Probable cause the unfavorable wind condition, and failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for the wind condition during the landing flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - unfavorable wind (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis UNICOM advised the pilot that the wind was from 270 degrees at 10 knots. Runway 26 (7,700 ft. x 75 ft., asphalt) was the active runway. Two 'notches' of flaps and an approach speed between 80 and 85 mph were used. The pilot said that just before touchdown, approximately 10 feet above the ground, he 'noticed the right wing quickly and suddenly rotate down approximately 45 degrees.' He then felt the 'right gear wheel strike the ground. The aircraft then bounced to the left gear(,) then settled to the runway without striking the nose gear or the tail . . . The aircraft did not yaw prior to the right wing striking the ground.' A sailplane pilot, who landed behind the airplane, reported experiencing 'an immediate and sudden updraft at the threshold of runway 26 that increased (my) altitude 15 feet.' ## Factual narrative On May 24, 1998, approximately 1145 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20F, N6476Q, was substantially damaged when the right wing struck the runway during landing at Moriarty, New Mexico. The private pilot and a commercial pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Albuquerque, New Mexico, approximately 1050. According to the pilot, the flight from Albuquerque's Double Eagle Airport was uneventful. Moriarty UNICOM advised him that the wind was from 270 degrees at 10 knots. Runway 26 (7,700 ft. x 75 ft., asphalt) was the active runway. Two "notches" of flaps and an approach speed between 80 and 85 mph were used. Just prior to touchdown, approximately 10 feet above the ground, he "noticed the right wing quickly and suddenly rotate down approximately 45 degrees. Then I felt right gear wheel strike the ground. The aircraft then bounced to the left gear then settled to the runway without striking the nose gear or the tail. . .The aircraft did not yaw prior to the right wing striking the ground. (I told) my brother that I thought the right wing had struck the ground and he confirmed it visually." The pilot said he spoke to the pilot of a sailplane that landed shortly thereafter and on the same runway. The sailplane pilot told him he had "experienced an immediate and sudden updraft at the threshold of runway 26 that increased his altitude 15 feet." A statement submitted by the commercial pilot-rated passenger, the brother of the pilot, corroborated that pilot's statement. A statement submitted by the sailplane pilot indicated he encountered "a large thermal gust." Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing front spar was bent and the rear spar was cracked. The right wing tip was scraped, and there was skin damage to the right wing at the aileron. Both wheel skirts were bent and scraped. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6476Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6476Q), registered now, S/N 680018, 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: 680018 - Airframe hours: 5699 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Glenn A. Watts - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 11, 1997, 21 hours before - Departed: AEG, ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Destination: 0E0 - Airport: 0E0, Moriarty, runway 26, 7,700 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 568 total, 547 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 30 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 19980524011059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980524011059A), May 24, 1998: Mooney M20F, Moriarty, NM, Substantial damage. Wind gust hit during flare. Right wing hit runway. Then left and right wheel prior stopping wrinkled wing. (-23) on may 24, 1998 at 11:50 MDT, a Mooney, M20F,… 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.