# NTSB GAA18CA233: Mooney M20F, N3535X, Bulberde, TX, April 19, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 19, 2018, 16:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Bulberde, TX - Coordinates: 29.739166, -98.45111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7392&lon=-98.4511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97113 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97113/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97113 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA233 ## Probable cause The pilot’s unstabilized approach, which resulted in the airplane landing long and fast, and the pilot’s subsequent decision to steer the airplane off the side of the runway to avoid a runway overrun. ## 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 M20F, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot who occupied the right front seat, during the flight, the engine started to run roughly. He added that, during landing, the airplane was fast and high, and it touched down about 1,200 ft past the approach end of the 2,890-ft-long runway. A pilot-rated passenger occupied the left front seat, which was the only position configured with brakes. The pilot-rated passenger applied the brakes during the landing roll, and the pilot maneuvered the airplane to exit the left side of the runway to avoid a runway overrun and impact with a fence. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane subsequently skidded to a stop in the grass safety area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft section of the fuselage. During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, a flight instructor, who was seated in the rear of the airplane during the flight, reported that the airplane touched down about 100 knots with between 40 and 60 percent of the runway remaining. According to the manufacturer's airplane operator manual, the minimum runway landing roll distance at sea level is 785 ft when the ground speed is 70 knots. The METAR at the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 07° at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The airport field elevation was 789 ft, and the pilot landed the airplane on runway 34. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot who occupied the right front seat, during the flight the engine started to run rough. During landing, the airplane was fast and high, and touched down about 1,200ft past the approach end of the 2,890ft runway. A pilot rated passenger occupied the left front seat which was the only position configured with brakes. The pilot-rated passenger applied the brakes during the landing roll and the pilot maneuvered the airplane to exit the left side of the runway to avoid a runway overrun and impact with a fence. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and the right main landing gear collapsed, and subsequently skidded to a stop in the grass safety area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft section of the fuselage. During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-in-charge, a flight instructor, who was seated in the rear of the airplane during the flight, reported that the airplane touched down about 100 knots, with between 40-60 percent of the runway remaining. According to the manufacturer's airplane operator manual, the minimum runway landing roll distance at sea level is 785ft when the ground speed is 70 knots. The METAR at the airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 07° at 12 knots and gusting to 17 knots. The airport field elevation was 789ft and the pilot landed to runway 34. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3535X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3535X), registered now, S/N 670072, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F (NO SERIES) - 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: 670072 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 4475 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Zulu Aviation Corp. - Registered owner: Zulu Aviation Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 2018 - Departed: FTW, Fort Worth, TX - Destination: 1T8, Bulberde, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 1T8, Bulverde Airpark, runway 34, 2,890 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review August 12, 2017; seat: right; flight hours: 1,228.1 total, 308 in this make and model, 1,114 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 13.5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 17; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 5, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KSAT, 12 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 20180419003869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180419003869A), Apr 19, 2018: Mooney M20F, Bulverde, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot and three passengers were returning from fort worth Texas to Bulverde, Texas 1T8. The pilot in command occupied the forward right hand seat. The forward… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97113. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467737&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interviews (item 2, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467740&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interviews-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467742&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.