OpenAirDocs.org

SEA87LA128

Open the Markdown

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20F · Grants Pass, OR · April 3, 1987

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Open on NTSBDownload NTSB report

© OpenStreetMap
Date
April 3, 1987, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place
Grants Pass, OR
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N6901VMooney M20F
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 8, 1988
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19870403035149A
Case key
40650

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

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.

Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionTakeoff - initial climb
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Misc eqpt/furnishings - not removedCause
Flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator - inoperative
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Wheels up landing - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
Anxiety/apprehensionPilot in commandFactor
Checklist - not usedPilot in commandCause
Diverted attentionPilot in commandFactor

Analysis

Shortly after takeoff the pilot realized that he had no airspeed indication due to his forgetting to remove the pitot cover during preflight. The pilot returned to land at the airport and landed gear up.

Aircraft

Registration
N6901V
Reported as
Mooney M20F
Category
Airplane
Serial number
221287
Airframe hours
1,068
Engine
Lycoming IO-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Roy C. Thompson
Registered owner
Roy C Thompson
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · September 23, 1986 · 38 hours before
Departed
3S8 · Grants Pass, OR
Destination
MFR · Medford, OR
Airport
3S8 · Josephine County, runway 30, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
N6901VRegistration cancelled May 2, 1989 · Mooney M20FS/N 221287Airframe modelMooney M20F

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
53
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
343 total · 85 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
40 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.

Accident 19870403035149AMooney M20F · Grants Pass, ORPilot took off with pitot tube cover on with no airspeed indication. Returned to land and forgot to extend the gearApr 3, 1987 · N6901V · Substantial damage