- Date
- August 28, 2006, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Eastsound, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5738QMooney M20C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 26, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20060828017179A
- Case key
- 64412
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during final approach resulting in an inadvertent stall and hard landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that approximately 40 minutes prior to landing he noted a reduction in manifold pressure and indicated airspeed, however he elected to continue the flight to his flight-planned destination. He reported that the airplane's approach speed was slow and that he added power too late. A witness stated the airplane seemed slow during the final approach segment of the flight and appeared to have stalled approximately 30-40 feet above the runway. After contacting the runway, the airplane bounced and the pilot applied power. After contacting the runway the second time, the airplane veered off the runway and come to rest west of the intended runway.
Factual narrative
On August 28, 2006, about 1215 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N5738Q, sustained substantial damage subsequent to a hard landing at the Orcas Island Airport, Eastsound, Washington. The flight was being conducted under Title 14, CFR Part 91, as a personal cross-country flight, and operated by the pilot. There were no injuries to the pilot or passenger. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight plan had been activated for the flight to Eastsound. The flight originated from Missoula, Montana, at 0930 mountain daylight time.
The pilot reported that approximately 40 minutes prior to landing he noted a reduction in manifold pressure and indicated airspeed, however elected to continue the flight to his flight-planned destination. He reported that the aircraft's approach speed was slow and that he added power too late.
A witness stated the airplane seemed slow during the final approach segment of the flight and appeared to have stalled approximately 30-40 feet above the runway. After contacting the runway, the airplane bounced and the pilot applied power. After contacting the runway the second time, the airplane veered off the runway and came to rest west of the intended runway.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5738Q
- Reported as
- Mooney M20C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- L820336A
- Airframe hours
- 1,225
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Peter R. Cavanagh
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2006
- Departed
- MSO · Missoula, MT
- Destination
- KORS · Eastsound, WA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ORS · Orcas Island, runway 34, 2,900 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 942 total · 238 in this make and model · 821 as pilot in command · 43 in the last 90 days · 23 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.85 inHg
- Observed at
- KORS, 1 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.