# NTSB SEA07CA268: Mooney M20D, N1229X, Placerville, CA, September 12, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 11, 2007, 19:55 local (Sep 12, 2007, 02:55 UTC) - Place: Placerville, CA - Coordinates: 38.724166, -120.753334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7242&lon=-120.7533&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66930 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66930/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA268 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing. A contributing factor was the pilots impaired performance. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - physiological condition, pilot in command (contributing factor) - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot did not extend the gear prior to landing and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the tubular structure on the underside of the fuselage. The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was flying it on a cross-country flight. During the flight, the pilot became ill and diverted to a nearby airport. The airplane bounced upon touchdown and the airplane skidded down the runway. The pilot reported to responding police personnel that he forgot to extend the landing gear. Post accident examination of the airplane and landing gear systems by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no mechanical anomalies with the landing gear system. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he had purchased the airplane on the day of the accident. He was flying it from Concord, California to Carson City, Nevada. During the flight, he started to feel ill and diverted to Placerville, California. He entered the traffic pattern on the downwind for runway 23. On final approach, the runway lights turned off and the pilot reactivated the lights. A few seconds later the airplane bounced and then settled down, skidding down the runway. The pilot thought that the gear collapsed on the initial bounce because the gear arm was not locked. The following day the pilot inspected the baggage area and noted that a lid to a paint can had come loose and was most likely what made him ill. According to the responding police personnel, the pilot told him that he became disoriented while landing and forgot to extend the landing gear. The pilot was acting disoriented and lethargic. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that during the airplane's recovery from the runway, it was lifted with a hoist and the landing gear was cycled. There were no mechanical malfunctions noted with the landing gear. The damage to the airplane included the tubular structure on the underside of the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1229X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1229X-2008-06-25), registration cancelled 2008-06-25, S/N 200, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20D - Registry model: [Mooney M20D](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20d) (registry code 5870210) (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: 200 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-360-A1D reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James Garland - Registered owner: James Garland - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CCR, Buchanan Field, CA - Destination: CXP, Carson Airport, NV - Airport: PVF, Placerville Airport, runway 23, 4,201 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 400 total, 5 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: MHR, 27 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 20070911021379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070911021379A), Sep 11, 2007: Mooney M20D, Placerville, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 09/11/2007 at 1955 aircraft N1229X landed gear up at pvt airport. There were no injuries reported. The aircraft received substantial damage to the… ## Other investigations on N1229X (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX66D0013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX66D0013), May 16, 1965: Mooney M21 (N1229X), Mojave, CA, substantial damage 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.