WPR09LA302

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20TN · San Jose, CA · June 20, 2009

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 20, 2009, 13:18 local (20:18 UTC)
Place
San Jose, CA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N411JLMooney M20TN
Defining event
Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 22, 2010
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20090620014319I
Case key
74099

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

On this page

Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions resulting in a collision with an airport sign.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.

Analysis

While on approach for landing at the initial airport, the pilot reported encountering gusty wind conditions. The airplane landed hard and bounced back into the air, and the pilot initiated a go-around. During the go-around the airplane struck brush, a runway end identifier light box, and a taxi way light. The pilot did a flyby of the tower, and tower personnel indicated that the landing gear did not appear to be down, and that he should divert to an alternate airport for the emergency landing. The pilot diverted to an alternate airport, and performed a flyby of the tower. Tower personnel reported that the landing gear appeared down. After the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear collapsed, followed by the left main and nose landing gear. The airplane skidded down the runway, coming to rest upright. The fuselage, both wings, and the horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane during the initial landing attempt.

Factual narrative

On June 20, 2009, about 1318 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20TN, N411JL, experienced a landing gear collapse after touch down at the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), San Jose, California. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings, as well as the horizontal stabilizer. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that departed the Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL), South Lake Tahoe, California, about 1100. No flight plan had been filed. The flight had been destined for the Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO), Palo Alto, California. According to the pilot, while on approach to PAO, he encountered gusty wind conditions. During the landing, the airplane touched down and bounced, and he initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane's landing gear struck the brush off the left side of the runway. The pilot overflew the airport, and PAO tower personnel indicated that the right landing gear did not appear to be fully deployed, and that he should divert to SJC. According to PAO airport operation's personnel, the airplane also struck a runway end identifier light (REIL) box, and a taxi way light. The pilot diverted to SJC, and overflew the runway. Tower personnel reported that it appeared that the landing gear was down. After the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear collapsed, followed by the left and nose landing gear. The airplane skidded down the runway before coming to rest upright on the runway. In the pilot's written report, he indicated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N411JL
Reported as
Mooney M20TN
Category
Airplane
Serial number
31-0096
Airframe hours
112
Engine
Teledyne Continental Motors TSIO-550-G1, 280 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
4th Wave
Registered owner
4th Wave
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 10, 2008 · 0 hours before
Departed
TVL · So Lake Tahoe, CA
Destination
PAO · Palo Alto, CA
Airport
SJC · San Jose International Airport, runway 29, 4,599 × 100 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
65
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 2, 2008
Seat
Left
Flight hours
628 total · 90 in this make and model · 363 as pilot in command · 56 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 10 knots, gusting 16
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
29.79 inHg
Observed at
NUQ, 4 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 539 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N411JL · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.