# NTSB LAX98LA175: Mooney M20F, N6453Q, Las Vegas, NV, May 25, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 25, 1998, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Las Vegas, NV
- Location: 36.2107° N, 115.1944° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NORTH LAS VEGAS (VGT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2107&lon=-115.1944&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30100
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA175
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30100/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA175

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper remedial action in controlling the aircraft during a go-around in a crosswind which resulted in a collision with a runway light and separation of the landing gear.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - not corrected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - runway light
  - landing gear,main gear - separation

## Analysis

The pilot was landing on runway 25 and felt a wind gust push the aircraft toward the right edge of the runway.  He attempted a go-around, but the aircraft continued to sink. The aircraft impacted a gravel area beside the runway and the right main landing gear separated after colliding with a runway light.  The airplane came to rest on the north side of the runway.  The winds were from 180 degrees at 10 knots.

## Factual narrative

On May 25, 1998, at 1420 hours Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20F, N6453Q, ground looped on landing at the Las Vegas, Nevada, airport.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he was doing traffic pattern operations.  As he crossed the threshold to land on runway 25, he felt a wind gust push the aircraft toward the right edge of the runway.  He applied full throttle to attempt a go-around, but the aircraft was in a nose high attitude and began to sink.  The aircraft impacted the gravel area beside the runway.  The pilot reported that the right main landing gear assembly impacted a runway light and separated from the aircraft.  The airplane came to rest on the north side of the runway.  The winds were from 180 degrees at 10 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6453Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6453Q-1999-05-05), registration cancelled 1999-05-05, S/N 670532 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Mooney M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 670532
- Airframe hours: 1491
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aerleon Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 11, 1998, 57 hours before
- Departed: VGT
- Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas, runway 25, 5,005 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 163 total, 20 in this make and model, 84 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAS

## 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 19980525025139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980525025139A), May 25, 1998: Mooney M20F, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot was landing on runway 25 and felt a wind gust push the aircraft toward the right edge of the runway. He attempted a go-around, but the aircraft…

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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