# NTSB SEA06LA172: Mooney M20C, N5738Q, Eastsound, WA, August 28, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 2006, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Eastsound, WA - Coordinates: 48.700553, -122.910278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7006&lon=-122.9103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64412 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06LA172 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64412/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06LA172 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during final approach resulting in an inadvertent stall and hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5738Q), registered now, S/N 3071 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: L820336A - Airframe hours: 1225 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060828017179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060828017179A), Aug 28, 2006: Mooney M20C, Eastsound, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Upon approach at ors there was a gust of wind. The pilot applied more power but was a delay of about 3 seconds. The a/c landed hard collapsing the… 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.