# NTSB NYC84FNA01: Mooney M20E, N3438X, Falmouth, MA, October 8, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: October 8, 1983, 12:28 local (16:28 UTC)
- Place: Falmouth, MA
- Location: 41.5856° N, 70.5404° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FALMOUTH AIRPARK (5B6), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5856&lon=-70.5404&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35409
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FNA01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35409/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FNA01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - ground
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, go-around (vfr)
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT CIRCLED THE FIELD AND THEN CAME IN FOR LANDING. ON FINAL APRCH THE ACFT WAS IN A LEFT WING LOW CRAB. UPON TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT BOUNCED TOUCHED AGAIN AND THEN THE LEFT WING TOUCHED THE GROUND. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER AND THE ACFT BEGAN TO CLIMB AND TURN TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT RETARDED THE POWER TO ABOUT 1/2 THROTTLE AND ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, JUST SHORT OF A GROVE OF TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3438X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1128
- Airframe hours: 1737
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 360 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Frank R. Gripe
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 1983
- Departed: 5B2, BALLSTON SPA, NY
- Airport: 5B6, Falmouth Ma, runway 25, 2,300 × 20 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 133 total, 27 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMH, 5 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 19831008053599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831008053599A), Oct 8, 1983: Mooney M20E, Falmouth, MA, Substantial damage. Aircraft wing dug into ground when pilot began a go around, then aircraft veered left off runway into trees.

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.

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