# NTSB GAA18CA438: Mooney M20E, N7845V, Great Falls, MT, July 22, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 22, 2018, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Great Falls, MT
- Coordinates: 47.482498, -111.356666 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4825&lon=-111.3567&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 97881
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA438
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97881/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97881
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA438

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s incorrect use of the landing gear system and his and the pilot’s failure to ensure that the landing gear was extended, which resulted in a gear-up landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s unfamiliarity with the airplane.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: configuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that they were conducting a "familiarization/instructional flight" in the retractable-gear airplane and that this was his first flight with the instructor. After practicing commercial maneuvers, they entered the traffic pattern, and the instructor wanted to acquaint himself with the "Johnson bar"-style landing gear system. The "Johnson bar" (manually operated retraction/extension handle) is pulled up to extend the landing gear and pushed down to retract the landing gear. The instructor then pushed the Johnson bar down in what he thought was the landing gear extended position. The pilot added that, although he twice verified that the landing gear was extended, the airplane landed with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that the flight was briefed as a "familiarization" flight because he was unfamiliar with the airplane. He added that the pilot had time in the airplane, and the intent was for him to become familiar with the performance and limitations of the airplane before he began conducting commercial training for the pilot. He added that he became distracted with the operation of the flaps and did not verify the landing gear position indicator lights located on the left side of the cockpit. He also added that he did not hear the gear warning horn. The pilot and flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that they were conducting a "familiarization/instructional flight", in the retractable-gear airplane, and that this was his first flight with the instructor. After practicing commercial maneuvers, they entered the traffic pattern and the instructor wanted to acquaint himself with the "Johnson bar" style landing gear system. The "Johnson bar" (manually operated retraction/extension handle) is pulled up to extend the landing gear and pushed down to retract the landing gear. The instructor then placed the Johnson bar down, in what he thought was the landing gear extended position. The pilot added that although he twice verified that the landing gear was extended, the airplane landed with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that, the flight was briefed as a "familiarization" flight because he was unfamiliar with the airplane. He added, the pilot had time in the airplane, and the intent was for him to become familiar with the performance and limitations of the airplane before he began conducting commercial training for the pilot. He added that he became distracted with the operation of the flaps and did not verify the landing gear position indicator lights located on the left side of the cockpit. He also added that he did not hear the gear warning horn. The pilot and flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7845V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7845V), registered now, S/N 466 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Mooney M20E (No Series)
- Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 466
- Year built: 1964
- Airframe hours: 6447.87
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A2A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2018
- Departed: GTF, Great Falls, MT
- Destination: GTF, Great Falls, MT
- Airport: GTF, Great Falls Intl, runway 21, 10,502 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2018; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 300.7 total, 24.3 in this make and model, 300.7 as pilot in command, 36.5 in the last 90 days, 19.7 in the last 30 days
- Flight instructor; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2017; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,485 total, 0 in this make and model, 2,388 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: KGTF, 1 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 20180722017589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180722017589A), Jul 22, 2018: Mooney M20E, Great Falls, MT, Substantial damage. The pilot (flying left seat) had departed from the Great Falls, MT (kgtf) to fly in the local area with a flight instructor (right seat) in preparation for…

## Other investigations on N7845V (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC65F0015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC65F0015), Jan 31, 1965: Mooney M20E (N7845V), New Cumberland, PA, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97881. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Pilot) (item 1, .PDF, 785 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467839&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (CFI) (item 2, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467840&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(CFI)-Master.PDF
- Accident Pictures (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 653 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467841&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-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.

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