# NTSB LAX96LA256: Mooney M20E, N3229F, Rio Linda, CA, July 1, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 1996, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Rio Linda, CA - Coordinates: 38.679298, -121.450431 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6793&lon=-121.4504&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29492 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA256 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29492/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA256 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain/maintain the proper approach airspeed, his failure to attain the proper runway touchdown point, and his failure to initiate a go-around when a landing overshoot became apparent. A factor in the accident was the airport management's failure to ensure that the overrun area was clear of potential fire hazards. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - airspeed(vref) - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Fire, standing - engine(s) operating - airport facilities,runway overrun area - grass (contributing factor) - other airport/runway maintenance - inadequate, airport personnel (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the winds were calm when he crossed the threshold 'a little high and 10 knots fast' on the 2,620-foot-long runway 17. The pilot said, 'I was able to get the wheels on the ground before midfield, but I bounced the airplane and had a very hard time getting it back on the runway.' The pilot was unable to stop the aircraft prior to running off the departure end about 5 mph. The aircraft traveled about 15 feet into an area of tall dried grass. As the pilot shut down the engine he noticed a fire behind the aircraft's wing and evacuated the aircraft. By the time the pilot could get to a phone, telephone for help, and the local fire department responded, the aircraft was engulfed in flames and eventually consumed by the ground fire. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 1996, at 1145 hours Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20E, N3229F, was destroyed by ground fire when the aircraft rolled off the end of the runway at the Rio Linda, California, airport and the exhaust ignited dried grass. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was completing a personal cross-country flight from Palo Alto, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed in the ground fire along with an undetermined amount of grass land and trees. The certificated private pilot and his one passenger were not injured. The flight originated in Palo Alto at 1100 on the day of the accident. The pilot stated that the winds were calm when he crossed the threshold "a little high and 10 knots fast" on the 2,620-foot-long runway 17. The pilot said, "I was able to get the wheels on the ground before midfield, but I bounced the airplane and had a very hard time getting it back on the runway." The pilot was unable to stop the aircraft prior to running off the departure end about 5 mph. The aircraft traveled about 15 feet into an area of tall dried grass. As the pilot shut down the engine he noticed a fire behind the aircraft's wing and evacuated the aircraft. By the time the pilot could get to a phone, telephone for help, and the local fire department responded, the aircraft was engulfed in flames and eventually consumed by the ground fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3229F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3229F-2012-09-06), registration cancelled 2012-09-06, S/N 670022, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20E - 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: 67-0022 - Airframe hours: 3760 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hamid A. Wasti - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 1995, 159 hours before - Departed: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA - Destination: Q94 - Airport: Q94, Rio Linda, runway 17, 2,620 × 42 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 569 total, 391 in this make and model, 492 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19960701015669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960701015669A), Jul 1, 1996: Mooney M20E, Rio Linda, CA, Destroyed. Too high and fast landing. Bounced and ballooned overran runway into tall dry grass. Exhaust caused fire. Burned. 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.