# NTSB NYC95LA091: Mooney M20K, N252DX, Marshfield, MA, April 21, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 21, 1995, 14:33 local (18:33 UTC) - Place: Marshfield, MA - Location: 42.0998° N, 70.6893° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Marshfield, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0998&lon=-70.6893&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38946 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38946/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA091 ## Probable cause the pilot misjudged the flare, resulting in a bounced landing and impact with the terrain. A factor in this accident was an improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - weather condition - crosswind - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command - terrain condition - swampy - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT HAD LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON RUNWAY 6. HE STATED, 'I FLARED FOR LANDING, BUT THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED, POSSIBLY DUE TO WIND SHIFTING.' THE REPORTED WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE 140 DEGREES, AT 12 KNOTS. THE PILOT ELECTED TO GO AROUND, AND APPLIED POWER TO THE ENGINE. HE STATED, 'THE ENGINE NEVER DEVELOPED TAKE-OFF POWER. IT CONTINUED TO FLY CLOSE TO THE GROUND. SINCE THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP, I DID NOT BELIEVE IT HAD FAILED.' THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT TWISTED THE VERNIER THROTTLE, BUT DID NOT REACH FULL THROTTLE. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCIES. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN A MARSH, NEAR THE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 1995, about 1433 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20K, N252DX, piloted by William H. Eilberg, collided with the terrain while landing at Marshfield Municipal Airport, Marshfield, Massachusetts. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 6. He stated, "I flared for landing, but the aircraft bounced, possibly due to the wind shifting." The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 140 degrees at 12 knots. After the airplane bounced, the pilot elected to go around, and he applied power to the engine. According to the pilot's written statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2: ...the engine never developed take-off power. It continued to fly close to the ground. Since the engine did not stop, I did not believe it had failed, but kept trying to get maximum power. The aircraft impacted a marsh, near the runway, in [a] level attitude. According to the FAA Inspector's statement, the throttle on N252DX was a vernier type (twist for fine tuning). The inspector wrote that the pilot stated, "...he was unable to recover from a bounced landing...." The pilot stated to the FAA Inspector, "...he added power by twisting the throttle control knob in and observing the manifold pressure gauge." The FAA Inspector's statement states: At that time Mr. Eilberg lost control of the aircraft, drifted to the left and impacted trees in a swamp area. I then asked Mr. Eilberg why he had not advanced the throttle by pushing the throttle in full. [He] stated when he had purchased the aircraft and was receiving instruction from a flight instructor, he was told not to advance the throttle by pushing it in full. He was told to twist the vernier controlled throttle control in and monitor the manifold pressure gauge, to do other wise would result in engine damage.... The FAA did a cursory examination of the engine and did not find any discrepancies. ## Aircraft - Registration: N252DX (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-0580 - Airframe hours: 1650 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-MB4B 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William H. Eilberg - Registered owner: Evelyn Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 1995, 40 hours before - Departed: PNE, PHILADELPHIA, PA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 3B2, Marshfield Municipal, runway 6, 2,999 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 390 total, 32 in this make and model, 342 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 12 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19950421009249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950421009249A), Apr 21, 1995: Mooney M20K, Marshfield, MA, Substantial damage. Bounced landing. Tried go around with idle power. Overflew runway into marsh. Unfamiliar with vernier throttle. 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.