# NTSB GAA15CA148: Mooney M20R, N93TK, West Mifflin, PA, June 27, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 27, 2015, 17:21 local (21:21 UTC) - Place: West Mifflin, PA - Coordinates: 40.353889, -79.924446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3539&lon=-79.9244&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91465 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91465/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91465 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA148 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during landing, which resulted in a bounce and loss of control during landing, followed by a runway excursion, and collision with terrain during an attempt to abort the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the initial touch down the airplane bounced, the pilot elected to abort the landing, and the airplane drifted to the left of the runway when power was applied. The pilot stated that the airplane did not have sufficient airspeed when she retracted the first notch of flaps, the airplane descended and the right wing impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the initial touch down the airplane bounced, the pilot elected to abort the landing, and the airplane drifted to the left of the runway when power was applied. The pilot stated that the airplane did not have sufficient airspeed when she retracted the first notch of flaps, the airplane descended and the right wing impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93TK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93TK-2022-07-30), registration cancelled 2022-07-30, S/N 29-0360, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20R (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Mooney M20R](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20r) (registry code 5870225) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29-0360 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 1491.8 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550G(6)B 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Elizabeth C Tyler-Kabara - Registered owner: Panther Wings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 21, 2015 - Departed: MQI, MANTEO, NC - Destination: AGC, West Mifflin, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AGC, Allegheny County, runway 28, 6,501 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 10, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 599 total, 498 in this make and model, 386 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 23, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,744 total, 1,235 in this make and model, 1,567 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.64 inHg - Observed at: KAGC ## 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 20150627010489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150627010489A), Jun 27, 2015: Mooney M20R, West Mifflin, PA, Substantial damage. While on an ILS visual approach for landing on 28R, N93TK bounced twice off of the ground after touchdown and drifted to the left side of the runway. The pilot… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 29, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91465. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-View of right wing damage (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 309 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429966&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-View%20of%20right%20wing%20damage%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)%20-Master.PDF 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.