# NTSB LAX04LA103: Mooney 20F, N7127V, Scottsdale, AZ, October 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 12, 2003, 16:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Scottsdale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.622776, -111.910552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6228&lon=-111.9106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58662 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58662/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA103 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign ## Analysis The airplane veered off of the runway during the landing roll and collided with an airport sign. Upon touchdown on the runway, the airplane veered to the left. As the pilot added power, the airplane became airborne. It then landed on a taxiway and collided with a runway sign. The main spar was damaged in the accident sequence. A mechanic examined the airplane and did not find a mechanical malfunction that would have resulted in directional control problems. The pilot said there was no control interference from his front seat passenger. ## Factual narrative On October 12, 2003, about 1640 mountain standard time, a Mooney 20F, N7127V, veered off of the runway during the landing roll at the Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Scottsdale, Arizona, and collided with an airport sign. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed the Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF), Santa Fe, New Mexico, about 1500 central standard time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the pilot was landing on runway 21, and the airplane veered to the left. As the pilot added power, the airplane became airborne. It then landed on a taxiway and collided with an airport sign. The main spar was damaged in the accident sequence. A mechanic examined the airplane and did not find any mechanical malfunction that would have resulted in the airplane veering to the left. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down on the main landing gear. After about 6 seconds, the nose gear touched down and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot applied the throttle and the airplane lifted off of the ground approximately 3 feet. He applied right rudder and landed on the taxiway. During the accident sequence, the airplane collided with a runway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing. In a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that the right, front seat passenger was also a pilot. The passenger did not interfere with the controls during landing. The pilot felt that debris may have entered the nose wheel area, resulting in the veer to the left. No debris was recovered from the accident area. The airplane was ferried from Scottsdale to Greeley, Colorado, for repairs. The flight to Greeley landed uneventfully. The examination of the airplane did not reveal any control anomalies with the landing gear system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7127V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7127V), registered now, S/N 22-0056, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney 20F - Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-0056 - Airframe hours: 4120 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas Chenal - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 2003, 120 hours before - Departed: SFA, Santa Fe, NM - Destination: SDL, Scottsdale, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SDL, Scottsdale, runway 21, 8,251 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 19, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 528 total, 105 in this make and model, 528 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KSDL ## 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 20031012035329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031012035329A), Oct 12, 2003: Mooney M20F, Scottsdale, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) This accident was discovered when a special flight permit was requested to transport the aircraft to a maintenance facility for repairs. Inspection of… 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.