# NTSB NYC02LA022: Mooney M20S, N1008R, Buckhannon, WV, October 31, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 31, 2001, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Buckhannon, WV - Coordinates: 38.979255, -80.219955 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9793&lon=-80.2200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 18, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 53713 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53713/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA022 ## Probable cause The CFI's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis While landing, the CFI pulled back on the yoke in preparation for landing. The airplane floated down the runway, and the CFI became concerned that a safe landing could not be made. At that point, the CFI "felt a heavy sink rate...along with a flared pitch attitude." As the CFI applied full throttle to abort the landing, the airplane touched down hard on the runway, collapsing the landing gear. ## Factual narrative On October 31, 2001, about 1830 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20S, N1008R, was substantially damaged while landing at the Upshur County Regional Airport (W22), Buckhannon, West Virginia. The certificated flight instructor (CFI), private pilot, and two passengers, were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument rules flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the CFI, he had been giving the private pilot dual instruction towards an instrument rating since October 1, 2001 in a Cessna 172; however, the private pilot also wanted to receive some dual training in the Mooney. The flight plan was to fly from Clarksburg (CKB), West Virginia, to Lewisburg (LWB), West Virginia, pick up two passengers, then fly to W22, drop off the passengers, and proceed back to CKB as a final destination. The flight to LWB was conducted with the private pilot at the controls from the left seat, while the CFI gave dual instruction from the right seat. Upon arriving at LWB, the private pilot requested the CFI to take the flight controls for the landing. The airplane arrived without incident. The flight departed LWB, with the private pilot at the controls, and proceeded to W22. Arriving at W22, the private pilot entered a standard left traffic pattern for Runway 29. As the airplane was on left base, the private pilot again requested the CFI to take the flight controls for the final approach and landing. During the final approach, the descent angle, airspeed and altitude all appeared normal. The CFI verified that the before landing checklist was completed and that all the occupants had their safety belts on and secured. Upon reaching what the CFI perceived as the flare position, he pulled back on the yoke in preparation for landing. The CFI realized that the airplane had not touched down on the runway, and became concerned that a safe landing could not be made. At that point, the CFI "felt a heavy sink rate...along with a flared pitch attitude." As the CFI applied full throttle to abort the landing, the airplane touched down hard on the runway, collapsing the landing gear. After the airplane came to a complete stop in the middle of the runway, the CFI opened the exit door and evacuated all of the passengers. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1008R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1008R), registered now, S/N 30-0055, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20S - Registry model: [Mooney M20S](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20s) (registry code 5870226) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-0055 - Airframe hours: 249 - Engines: Teledyne Cont IO-550-G 244 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bohica Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 2001, 52 hours before - Departed: LWB, Lewisburg, WV - Destination: W22, Buckhannon, WV - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: W22, Upshur County Regional Airport, runway 29, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 11, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 787 total, 24 in this make and model, 683 as pilot in command, 137 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 28, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 245 total, 1 in this make and model, 217 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: CKB, 15 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 20011031029369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011031029369A), Oct 31, 2001: Mooney M20S, Buckhannon, WV, Substantial damage. (.19) On October 31, 2001, about 1830 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20S, N1008R, was substantially damaged while landing at the Upshur County Regional… ## Other investigations on N1008R (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 ERA09CA439](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA439), Jul 28, 2009: Mooney M20S (N1008R), Mayfield, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot prematurely retracting the landing gear and flaps during the aborted landing. 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.