# NTSB IAD97LA007: Mooney M20J, N950Z, Harlan, KY, October 13, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 13, 1996, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Harlan, KY - Coordinates: 36.840892, -83.319366 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8409&lon=-83.3194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28152 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28152/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA007 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudged distance and speed, and his faiure to attain the proper touchdown point during the landing, which resulted in overrun of the runway and an encounter with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane touched down with excessive airspeed and overran the runway. He stated that on his first approach, he made a go-around as the rising terrain intimidated him. He stated that on his second approach, he decided to increase his airspeed by 10 to 15 knots. The airplane touched down on runway 8, about 2700 feet long, exited the runway, and collided with rising terrain. The airplane was examined after the accident by an FAA inspector. The inspector stated that the examination of the brakes did not disclose evidence of a mechanical malfunction and that there were skid marks approximately 300 feet from the end of the runway. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction, and the accident could have been prevented if he had maintained a normal airspeed on final approach. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 1996, at 1115 eastern daylight time (EDT), N950Z, a Mooney M20J, overran the runway while landing at Tucker Guthrie Memorial Airport, in Harlan, Kentucky. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured, and the two passengers received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The business flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Fredericksburg, Virginia, at 0930 EDT. The pilot reported that his flight to Kentucky was uneventful. He said, "...I started my descent into the traffic area, setting myself up for the approach profile on downwind. I kept everything normal at this point, after turning base and onto final, the terrain surrounding the runway gave me an illusion that I allow[ed] to intimidate me. After making a go around I decide[d] to keep my airspeed up 10-15 knots to reassure me that I would make it to the runway and to clear a mountain that was on the final approach. The result of keeping airspeed up was running off the runway." The airplane collided with rising terrain at the departure end of the runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Inspector, the airplane touched down on runway 8, 2700 feet long and that there were skid marks approximately 300 feet from the end of the runway. Examination of the brakes by the FAA did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction. The pilot reported that "the accident could have been prevented if he had maintained a normal airspeed on final approach, and that there was no mechanical malfunction". ## Aircraft - Registration: [N950Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N950Z-2012-08-10), registration cancelled 2012-08-10, S/N 24-1173, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1173 - Airframe hours: 3200 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael Leonidov - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 1995, 100 hours before - Departed: EZF, FREDERICKSBURG, VA - Destination: I35, KY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: I35, Tucker Guthrie Meml, runway 8, 2,700 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,367 total, 212 in this make and model, 3,910 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: 1A6, 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 19961013032229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961013032229A), Oct 13, 1996: Mooney M20J, Harlan, KY, Substantial damage. Aircraft brakes locked on landing and rolled off the end of runway down a hill. (-23) on oct. 13, 1996, at 1115 EST, a Mooney M20, N950Z, registered to michael… 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.