SEA06LA172

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20C · Eastsound, WA · August 28, 2006

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
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.

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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.

Hard landingLanding
Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding
Terrain condition - runway

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.