# NTSB LAX83LA410: Mooney M20A, N6020X, Gila Bend, AZ, August 26, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 26, 1983, 10:27 local (17:27 UTC)
- Place: Gila Bend, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.989871, -112.900642 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9899&lon=-112.9006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23835
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA410
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23835/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA410

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - exceeded, pilot in command
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT OVERRAN THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH DITCH DURING LANDING. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT FLOATED AFTER THE FLARE FOR LANDING AND EVEN THOUGH HEAVY BRAKING WAS USED AFTER LANDING THE ACFT DID NOT STOP ON THE RWY. THE WIND WAS CALM BUT THE PLT SAID HE HAD NOT OBSERVED THE WINDSOCK PRIOR TO LANDING. THE RWY USED IS 3800 FT LONG WITH A 200 FT OVERRUN. THE DITCH IS 100 BEYOND THE OVERRUN. THE PLT STATED IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT THAT HE SHOULD HAVE MADE A GO-AROUND WHEN THE KNEW HE COULD NOT MAKE THE LANDING APPROACH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6020X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6020X-2013-04-25), registration cancelled 2013-04-25, S/N 1608, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20A
- Registry model: [Mooney M20A](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20a) (registry code 5870204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1608
- Airframe hours: 2920
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Douglas S. Godbey
- Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 1983, 51 hours before
- Departed: ELP, EL PASO, TX
- Destination: LOS ANGELES, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: E63, Gila Bend, runway 22, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 121 total, 57 in this make and model, 77 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GBN, 3 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 19830826044479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830826044479A), Aug 26, 1983: Mooney M20A, Gila Bend, AZ, Substantial damage. Too fast on landing. Unable to stop on the runway on rollout. Ran off end of the runway into a culvert.

## Other investigations on N6020X (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 UNK64X2251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2251), Jun 12, 1964: Mooney M20 (N6020X), Bucklin, KS, substantial damage

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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