# NTSB NYC07CA113: Mooney M-18L, N119C, Bessemer, AL, May 6, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 6, 2007, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Bessemer, AL - Coordinates: 33.3125, -86.926391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3125&lon=-86.9264&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65749 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65749/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA113 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent gear collapse during the landing roll. A factor in the accident was wind gusts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - grass - Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis After taking off from runway 5, the pilot of a Mooney M18-L remained in the traffic pattern to practice landings. The pilot lined up on the final approach to the runway with 10 degrees of wing flaps extended, and utilized the visual approach slope indicator to adjust his glide path. After passing over the runway end identifier lights, he then turned to line up with the grass between the runway and taxiway, to practice a soft field landing. His intent was to touchdown just past a taxiway that ran perpendicular to his flight path. As the airplane approached the perpendicular taxiway, "the plane dropped suddenly" with no change of "engine power or tone." The airplane then touched down hard, crossed the edge of the perpendicular taxiway, and the landing gear collapsed, substantially damaging the airplane. Winds about the time of the accident were 045 degrees at 8 knots gusting to 15 knots. ## Factual narrative After taking off from runway 5, the pilot of a Mooney M18-L remained in the traffic pattern to practice landings. The pilot lined up on the final approach to the runway with 10 degrees of wing flaps extended, and utilized the visual approach slope indicator to adjust his glide path. After passing over the runway end identifier lights, he then turned to line up with the grass between the runway and taxiway, to practice a soft field landing. His intent was to touchdown just past a taxiway that ran perpendicular to his flight path. As the airplane approached the perpendicular taxiway, "the plane dropped suddenly" with no change of "engine power or tone." The airplane then touched down hard, crossed the edge of the perpendicular taxiway, and the landing gear collapsed, substantially damaging the airplane. Winds about the time of the accident were 045 degrees at 8 knots gusting to 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N119C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N119C), registered now, S/N 51, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M-18L - Registry model: [Mooney M-18L](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m-18l) (registry code 5870106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-145B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (registry code 41502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 51 - Airframe hours: 1515.62 - Engines: Lycoming O-145-C2 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hospital Coverage PC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007 - Departed: EKY, Bessemer, AL - Destination: EKY - Airport: EKY, Bessemer Airport, runway 5, 6,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: single; flight hours: 180 total, 91 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: EKY ## 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 20070506008629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070506008629A), May 6, 2007: Mnmite M18L, Bessemer, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) While landing runway 5 Bessemer, Alabama (eky), pilot stalled the aircraft, making a hard landing causing both main landing gear to go through the top of… 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.