# NTSB NYC04CA135: Mooney M20R, N53WM, Warren, VT, May 29, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 29, 2004, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Warren, VT - Coordinates: 44.116664, -72.826942 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1167&lon=-72.8269&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 59351 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59351/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA135 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in this accident was the wind shear as reported by the pilot. ## 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 (cause) - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was landing on runway 4, a 2,575-foot-long, 30-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot reported that the airplane was approximately 10 feet above the runway, when it encountered a strong wind shear and dropped "fast and hard" onto the runway. The pilot aborted the landing and was informed over the Unicom, that the airplane's left main landing gear had separated. The pilot elected to divert to another airport, where he performed a gear up landing, without further incident. The elevation at the accident site was about 1,470 feet. Winds reported at an airport that was located about 13 miles northeast of the accident site, and at an elevation of 1,165 feet, about the time of the accident, were from 310 degrees, at 14 knots, with 21 knot gusts. ## Factual narrative On May 29, 2004, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20R, N53WM, was substantially damaged while landing at the Warren-Sugarbush Airport, Warren, Vermont. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Bedford, Massachusetts. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he over flew the airport and did not observe a windsock; however, he was informed over the Unicom frequency that runway 4 was in use, and he observed an airplane depart from runway 4. The pilot entered the traffic pattern for runway 4, a 2,575-foot-long, 30-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot stated that the airplane was approximately 10 feet above the runway, when it encountered a strong wind shear and dropped "fast and hard" onto the runway. The pilot aborted the landing and was informed over the Unicom, that the airplane's left main landing gear had separated. The pilot elected to divert to Lebanon, New Hampshire, where he performed a gear up landing, without further incident. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed damage to the left wing spar and flap. The pilot reported 913 hours of total flight experience, which included 757 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The elevation at the accident site was about 1,470 feet. Winds reported at an airport that was located about 13 miles northeast of the accident site, and at an elevation of 1,165 feet, about the time of the accident, were from 310 degrees, at 14 knots, with 21 knot gusts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53WM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53WM), registered now, S/N 29-0191, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20R - Registry model: [Mooney M20R](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20r) (registry code 5870225) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29-0191 - Airframe hours: 1048 - Engines: Continental IO-550-G6B 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ivan Burns - Registered owner: Ivan R. Burns - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 2004, 67 hours before - Departed: BED, Bedford, MA - Destination: 0B7, Warren, VT - Airport: 0B7, Warren-Sugarbush, runway 4, 2,575 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 29, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 913 total, 757 in this make and model, 845 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 14 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: MPV, 13 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 20040529017199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040529017199A), May 29, 2004: Mooney M20R, Lebanon, NH, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot [privacy data omitted] flying a Mooney M20R N532WM, was attempting to land on runway 04 at warren/sugarbush airport 0B7 in Vermont at approximately… 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.