# NTSB GAA18CA224: Mooney M20R, N6868, San Antonio, TX, April 16, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 16, 2018, 14:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.570278, -98.46833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5703&lon=-98.4683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97085 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97085/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97085 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA224 ## Probable cause The pilot’s landing long in tailwind conditions with insufficient runway remaining to stop the airplane. ## 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) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); 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-landing roll: 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 According to the pilot, the airplane encountered a tailwind gust during landing. He reported that he frequented the airport and that it was common practice to land with a tailwind because of the preferred up-sloping runway. He asserted that he underestimated the significance of the wind conditions and that, when the airplane touched down, it was too late to abort the landing. The ground speed was too fast, and the airplane exited the departure end of the runway and collided with an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The METAR at the nearest airport, 2 nautical miles from the accident site, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 160° at 17 knots, gusting to 24 knots. The pilot landed on runway 30. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the airplane encountered a tailwind gust during landing. He reported that he frequented the airport and it was common practice to land with a tailwind because of the preferred upsloping runway. He asserted that he underestimated the significance of the wind conditions, and that when the airplane touched down, it was too late to abort the landing. The airplane's ground speed was too fast, and the airplane exited the departure end of the runway and collided with an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing. The METAR at the nearest airport was 2 nautical miles from the accident site and reported that about the time of the accident the wind was from 160° at 17 knots and gusting to 24 knots. The pilot landed on runway 30. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6868](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6868-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 29-0385, 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: 29-0385 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 390 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550-G7B 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 2017 - Departed: LFK, LUFKIN, TX - Destination: T94, San Antonio, TX - Airport: T94, Twin-Oaks, runway 30, 2,225 × 30 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 6, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 19,000 total, 40 in this make and model, 19,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 17 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KSAT, 2 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 20180416003749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180416003749A), Apr 16, 2018: Mooney M20R, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. On April 16, 2018 at approximately 1420 local, Mooney N6868, registered to ^Mr. William m. pearson^, landed on runway 30 where it ran out of runway and rolled… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97085. 677 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 489 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466238&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466239&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.