# NTSB WPR15LA113: Mooney M20E - NO Series, N11LV, Bakersfield, CA, February 14, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 14, 2015, 08:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Bakersfield, CA - Coordinates: 35.433887, -119.057777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4339&lon=-119.0578&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 21, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90776 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90776/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90776 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA113 ## Probable cause The collapse of all three landing gear during the takeoff roll for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, he felt what he thought was the left main wheel roll over a recessed runway light, followed by the airplane swaying left. Immediately thereafter, both main landing gear collapsed, and then the nose landing gear collapsed. A postaccident examination of the landing gear system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, no evidence of balding, nicks, nor any other type of tire damage was found that could have been attributed to either tire impacting the recessed lighting during the takeoff roll as reported by the pilot. The reason for the collapse of all three landing gear could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On February 14, 2015, about 0800 Pacific standard time, a Mooney M20E, N11LV, was substantially damaged following a landing gear collapse on takeoff roll at Meadows Field (BFL), Bakersfield, California. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the proposed personal cross-country flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed, but had not been activated at the time of the accident. The flight, which was originating at the time of the accident, was destined for the Hayward Executive Airport (HWD), Hayward, California.In a statement submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that on the takeoff roll at about 60 miles per hour, he felt the left main wheel roll over a recessed sequencingflush-mounted flasher [light], which was part of the airports Medium Intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (MALSR). The pilot stated that the airplane seemed to sway to the left slightly as it crossed the light, then immediately both main [landing] gear retracted; the engine continued to run at full power, as the nose landing gear remained extended. The pilot opined that as he reached for the mixture control to shut the engine down, the nose gear collapsed. The pilot added that after the propeller struck the ground, the airplane slid down the runway a few hundred feet prior to coming to rest [upright] left of the runway centerline. A postaccident examination of the airplane's landing gear system by a licensed Federal Aviation Administration airframe and powerplant mechanic failed to reveal any anomalies with the landing gear system that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, the mechanic's inspection of both main tires failed to reveal any evidence of balding, nicks, or any other type of damage that might have been attributed to either tire having impacted the recessed lighting during the takeoff roll. (Refer to the Landing Gear Examination Report, which is appended to the docket for this accident.) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11LV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11LV-2020-08-27), registration cancelled 2020-08-27, S/N 21-0041, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E - NO SERIES (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21-0041 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 2888 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michael A Cottle - Registered owner: Alvis T Curtis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2014, 20 hours before - Departed: BFL, Bakersfield, CA - Destination: HWD, Hayward, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BFL, Meadows Field, runway 30R, 10,855 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,585 total, 38 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: BFL ## 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 20150214001839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150214001839A), Feb 14, 2015: Mooney M20E, Bakersfield, CA, Substantial damage. On take off roll just before rotatation speed the aircraft struck a recessed mouser light on the center line of the runway with the left main landing gear.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90776. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434936&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Landing Gear System Examination Report (item 2, .PDF, 284 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434937&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Landing%20Gear%20System%20Examination%20Report-Master.PDF - Excerpts from Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 4, .PDF, 243 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434939&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.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.