# NTSB MIA94LA111: Mooney M20-J, N187ER, Daytona Beach, FL, April 5, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 5, 1994, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Daytona Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 29.189296, -81.050735 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1893&lon=-81.0507&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37520
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37520/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA111

## Probable cause

COLLAPSE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR AND COMMERCIALLY RATED STUDENT LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR AND CHECKED IT DOWN THREE TIMES. DURING LANDING ROLL THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE AIRPLANE WAS EXAMINED AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND WHEN ON JACKS THE GEAR CYCLED NORMALLY UP AND DOWN BOTH ELECTRICALLY AND MECHANICALLY.

## Factual narrative

On April 5, 1994, about 1000 eastern daylight time, N187ER, a Mooney M20-J, registered to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, experienced a gear collapse on landing at Daytona Regional Airport, Daytona Beach, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 141 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a local company VFR flight following flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and both pilots reported no injuries. The flight had originated about 90 minutes earlier.

Both pilots stated that after executing a VOR approach they elected to terminate the flight with a short field landing on runway 16. The instructor pilot and the commercial rated student pilot both stated that they lowered the landing gear and confirmed it was down three times. During landing roll the left gear collapsed and the airplane then skidded off the runway and the other landing gears collapsed. Three pilot-rated witnesses stated that they observed the left landing gear not fully down before to landing. The instructor and student both stated that they did not hear the landing gear safety horn during approach. The airplane had been grounded the previous flight because of a faulty landing gear indication, and had a new gear limit switch installed along with a rigging check. After the accident the airplane was placed on jacks, the actuator rods were straightened, and the gear functioned normally; both electrically and manually.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N187ER](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N187ER-1997-02-26), registration cancelled 1997-02-26, S/N 24169714 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20-J
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1697-14
- Airframe hours: 4235
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Embry Riddle Aero University
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 29, 1994, 18 hours before
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: DAB, Daytona Beach Regional, runway 16, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 4,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 3,700 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAB

## 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 19940405000369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940405000369A), Apr 5, 1994: Mooney M20J, Daytona Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Left gear collapsed landing. Skidded off runway collapsed other gear. Witness saw left gear not fully down.

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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