# NTSB SEA91LA236: Mooney M20F, N3492N, Kent, WA, September 15, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 14, 1991, 17:25 local (Sep 15, 1991, 00:25 UTC)
- Place: Kent, WA
- Coordinates: 47.359024, -122.100143 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3590&lon=-122.1001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41534
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91LA236
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41534/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA236

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING AND GO-AROUND (ABORTED LANDING).  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A PORPOISE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - go-around - initiated, pilot in command
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A PORPOISE AND BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE LEFT.  HE TRIED TO RE-ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE RUNWAY, THEN INITIATED A GO-AROUND.  THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO CLIMB; HOWEVER, IT CONTINUED DRIFTING LEFT, HIT TREES ABOUT 15 FT BELOW THE TOPS AND CRASHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3492N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3492N-1992-06-10), registration cancelled 1992-06-10, S/N 680073 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 68-0073
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William E. Claussen
- Registered owner: William E. Claussen
- Departed: WA72, YELM, WA
- Airport: S36, Crest Airpark, runway 33, 3,267 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 536 total, 323 in this make and model, 438 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910914040019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910914040019A), Sep 14, 1991: Mooney M20F, Kent, WA, Substantial damage. Bounced,porpoised severely. Began go around due to traffic. Rolled vertical. Struck trees severing wing and tail.

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.

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