# NTSB WPR09LA302: Mooney M20TN, N411JL, San Jose, CA, June 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2009, 13:18 local (20:18 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.349998, -121.916664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3500&lon=-121.9167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74099 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA302 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74099/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74099 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA302 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions resulting in a collision with an airport sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20TN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=5870227), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Mooney M20TN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=5870227), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20TN, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870227), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Mooney M20TN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=5870227), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20TN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5870227), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20TN, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870227), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mooney M20TN, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870227), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N411JL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N411JL), registered now, S/N 31-0096 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20TN - Registry model: [Mooney M20TN](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20tn) (registry code 5870227) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-550-G](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-550-g) (registry code 17401, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-0096 - Airframe hours: 112 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; 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 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20090620014319I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090620014319I), Jun 20, 2009: Moone M20TN, Palo Alto, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) While landing runway 13 at Palo Alto airport, Mooney N411JL veered off the runway to the left due to strong winds. At the time of landing the crosswind… ## Other investigations on N411JL (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 CEN12FA487](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA487), Jul 27, 2012: Mooney M20TN (N411JL), Adrian, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: An initial nose-pitch-up event and out-of-trim condition, the reason for which could not be determined because the examinations of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74099. 539 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 524 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - SJC Accident Report (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319360&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=SJC%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.