# NTSB NYC04CA115: Mooney M20C, N99NH, Front Royal, VA, April 29, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 29, 2004, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Front Royal, VA - Coordinates: 38.917499, -78.253334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9175&lon=-78.2533&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Dulles, Virginia - NTSB case key (mKey): 59157 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59157/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA115 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing. A factor in this accident was the crosswind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - aborted - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The airplane was on approach to land on runway 9, a 2,993-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot encountered a gust of wind just prior to landing. The airplane landed hard, and began to bounce. After the second bounce, the pilot elected to abort the landing; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, and struck an embankment. Winds reported at an airport located about 15 miles south of the accident site, about 10 minutes before the accident, were from 170 degrees at 11 knots. The reported winds about 10 minutes after the accident, were from 160 degrees at 10 knots, with 16 knot gusts. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2004, about 1830 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N99NH, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing at the Warren County Airport, Front Royal, Virginia. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was on approach to land on runway 9, a 2,993-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. In a written statement, the pilot said that he encountered a gust of wind just prior to landing. The airplane landed hard, and began to bounce. After the second bounce, the pilot elected to abort the landing. He applied full power and retracted the flaps; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, crossed a taxiway, and struck an embankment. Winds reported at an airport located about 15 miles south of the accident site, at 1830, were from 170 degrees at 11 knots. At 1840, the reported winds were from 160 degrees at 10 knots, with 16 knot gusts. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot reported 395 hours of total flight experience, which included 80 hours in the same make and model of the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99NH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99NH-2006-02-06), registration cancelled 2006-02-06, S/N 2364, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2364 - Airframe hours: 1779 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard B. Kleese - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: VJI, Abingdon, VA - Destination: FRR, Front Royal, VA - Airport: FRR, Warren County, runway 9, 2,993 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 395 total, 80 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: OKV, 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 20040429021229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040429021229A), Apr 29, 2004: Mooney M20C, Front Royal, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) During attempted landing, with a crosswind on rwy 9 at frr, aircraft landed hard and bounced several times. Pilot then attempted a go-around by adding… 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.