# NTSB WPR10LA340: Mooney M20F, N6802V, Cottonwood, AZ, July 2, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 2010, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Cottonwood, AZ - Coordinates: 34.750682, -112.009864 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7507&lon=-112.0099&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76563 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA340 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76563/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76563 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA340 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to lower the landing gear prior to landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=5870314), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=5870314), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/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: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=5870314), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during final approach he completed the landing checklist and confirmed that the green down and locked gear light was illuminated. On touchdown the airplane dropped onto its belly and slid about 200 feet before coming to rest on the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the airplane’s belly skin and outer surfaces of the landing gear doors. This damage, in addition to the lack of damage to the landing gear extension and retraction push rods, was indicative of the landing gear being retracted and the doors closed at the time of impact. Additionally, during the examination the landing gear was cycled several times, with no anomalies noted. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 2010, about 0800 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20F, N6802V, sustained substantial damage following a landing gear collapse during landing roll at the Cottonwood Airport (P52), Cottonwood, Arizona. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, which was being operated in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The airplane had departed the Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD), Chandler, Arizona, about 0700, with P52 as its destination. In a telephone conversation and in a written report submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated that when established on a four mile final and observing the green down and locked light, he reduced power and speed to 120 miles per hour (mph), executed the ‘GUMPS’ checklist and trimmed the airplane to 80 mph. All was normal and he felt a smooth touchdown, with an instantaneous drop of the plane onto its belly. The airplane then slid approximately 200 feet and came to rest on the runway. The pilot further stated in his report that one item he could not remember checking was the gear locked plate on the floor between the front seats. The pilot reported that later that day when the battery was hooked back up, it was seen that this plate was not slid completely into position. The pilot stated that if this had been noticed in flight he could have tried cycling the gear and seen to it that this plate was in the normal locked position. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector reported that an examination of the airplane revealed that it had sustained significant damage to the belly skin, but no damage to the main landing gear doors. The nose landing gear doors were damaged on the outer surfaces, which is the lower surface when the gear is up and the gear doors are closed. The inspector stated that the landing gear extension and retraction system is gear and push rod driven, and that a collapsing gear would have resulted in damage to those components; an inspection of the drive components found them undamaged. The inspector added that after jacking the aircraft up and cycling the landing gear several times, the electrical extension, alternate mechanical extension and landing gear position indicating systems worked properly. The inspector concluded that the landing gear was up and selected in the UP position when the airplane contacted the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6802V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6802V), registered now, S/N 22-0002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-acft-corp-of-texas-m20f) (registry code 5870314) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-0002 - Airframe hours: 4438 - Engines: Lycoming IO 360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Deano L. Jacobs - Registered owner: Orion Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 2009, 41 hours before - Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Destination: P52, Cottonwood, AZ - Airport: P52, Cottonwood Airport, runway 32, 4,250 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 164 total, 50 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: FLG, 30 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 20100702038709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100702038709A), Jul 2, 2010: Aerostar Ac M20F, Cottonwood, AZ, Substantial damage. On July 2, 2010, at 0800 local time N6802V, a M20F landed gear up at P52. Inspection of the aircraft found significant damage to the belly skin of the… ## Other investigations on N6802V (2) 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 MIA76DLA45](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA76DLA45), May 17, 1976: Mooney M20C (N6802V), Carrabelle, FL, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA74FLD73](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA74FLD73), Mar 15, 1974: Mooney M20F (N6802V), Lakeland, FL, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76563. 878 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 785 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349368&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Report (item 2, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349370&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Report-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Release of Wreckage Form (item 3, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349374&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%20Form-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.