# NTSB NYC03LA083: Mooney M20K, N231LS, West Milford, NJ, April 11, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 2003, 20:40 local (Apr 11, 2003, 00:40 UTC) - Place: West Milford, NJ - Coordinates: 41.128334, -74.346664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1283&lon=-74.3467&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56801 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56801/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA083 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind and his failure to maintain directional control. Factors in the accident were the crosswind and landing at night. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - light condition - night (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) ## Analysis The pilot flew from his home airport to another airport to drop off a friend, who was to pick up another airplane. When they landed at the other airport there was a nose wheel shimmy. The pilot shut the engine down at the fixed base operator, and both he and the other pilot got out to check the nose wheel. He could find nothing wrong, and when the friend was ready, they both departed in their separate airplanes to return to their home airport. When they arrived, the other airplane landed first. The accident pilot flew his approach to the 4,000 foot long runway 6, with the flaps set to 20 degrees. After touch down, the nose of the airplane veered to the right; however, he did not recall any shimmy of the nose wheel. He pulled back on the yoke to ease the nose up, but he pulled back too hard and the airplane became airborne again. He thought he would touch down on the runway again, but instead, the airplane landed between the runway and taxiway, and struck rocks. The pilot said he did not experience any other mechanical problems during the landing. The pilot estimated the winds to be variable at 5 knots. Winds reported at the other airport, about 30 miles northeast were from 120 at 7 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 2003, about 2040 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20K, N231LS, was substantially damaged during landing at the Greenwood Lake Airport (4N1), West Milford, New Jersey. The certificated airline transport pilot received serious injuries. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated at the Stewart International Airport (SWF), Newburgh, New York. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he flew from 4N1to SWF, to drop off a friend to pick up another airplane. When they landed at SWF, there was a nose wheel shimmy. He shut the engine down at the fixed base operator, and both he and the other pilot got out to check the nose wheel. He could find nothing wrong, and when the friend was ready, they both departed in their separate airplanes to return to 4N1. When they arrived back near 4N1, there was a delay entering the New York ADIZ, and the subsequent landing of both airplanes took place after sunset. The other airplane landed first, followed by N231LS. The pilot flew his approach to runway 6 with the flaps set to 20 degrees. After touch down, the nose of the airplane veered to the right; however, he did not recall any shimmy of the nose wheel. He pulled back on the yoke to ease the nose up, but he pulled back too hard and the airplane became airborne again. He thought he would touch down on the runway again, but instead, the airplane landed between the runway and taxiway, and struck rocks. The left main gear was driven up through the wing and the nose wheel and propeller were also damaged. The pilot did not experience any other mechanical problems during the landing. He said he had been flying the airplane about twice a month for the past 15 years. The pilot estimated the winds to be variable at 5 knots. Winds reported at 2045, at SWF, were from 120 at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N231LS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231LS-2013-04-15), registration cancelled 2013-04-15, S/N 25-0136, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20K - Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-0136 - Airframe hours: 1510 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: C.D. Aircraft Leasing Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 2002, 10 hours before - Departed: SWF, NEWBURGH, NY - Destination: 4N1, West Milford, NJ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 4N1, Greenwood Lake, runway 6, 4,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: serious; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 30, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 26,300 total, 300 in this make and model, 26,000 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 120° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: SWF ## 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 20030410036589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030410036589A), Apr 10, 2003: Mooney M20K, West Milford, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) Nose wheel shimmy on landing at kswf. Pilot inspected acft. No problem found. Take off at kswf normal. On landing at 4N1 (Greenwood lake) runway 06,… 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.