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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

May 29, 1983 · Mooney M20K · N9872Q

Mitchellville, MD

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 29, 1983
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Mitchellville, MD
Aircraft
Mooney M20K
Tail Number
N9872Q
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL83LA204

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND A DIRT BANK ON THE FINAL APPROACH JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE FENCE WAS ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF HIGHER THAN THE DIRT AND THE DIRT BANK WAS APRX AN EQUAL HEIGHT ABOVE THE RUNWAY. THE PLT HAD FLOWN THROUGH RAIN SHOWERS WHILE ENROUTE. HE REPORTED THAT HIS VERTICAL SPEED INDICATOR FLUCTUATED UNUSUALLY AND THE ALTIMETER WAS SLUGGISH. ON HIS APPROACH TO LAND THE PILOT REPORTED NOTICING THAT HE WAS LOWER THAN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THE WEATHER WAS VMC BUT IT WAS A DARK NIGHT. ABOUT 75 FT SHORT OF THE RWY THRESHOLD THE ACFTS PROPELLER, FUSELAGE AND LANDING GEAR HIT AND KNOCKED DOWN PART OF A CHAIN LINK FENCE, INCLUDING A STEEL POST. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE PROPELLER HIT THE DIRT BANK. THE ACFT BOUNCED AND LANDED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE FT SHORT OF THE RWY. IT SLID DOWN THE RWY AND TO THE SIDE AN UNDETERMINED DISTANCE. (IT WAS MOVED PRIOR TO INVESTIGATION.) EXAMINATION OF THE PITOT STATIC SYSTEM REVEALED ABOUT 3 TABLESPOONSFUL OF WATER TRAPPED IN THE LINES.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND A DIRT BANK ON THE FINAL APPROACH JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE FENCE WAS ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF HIGHER THAN THE DIRT AND THE DIRT BANK WAS APRX AN EQUAL HEIGHT ABOVE THE RUNWAY. THE PLT HAD FLOWN THROUGH RAIN SHOWERS WHILE ENROUTE. HE REPORTED THAT HIS VERTICAL SPEED INDICATOR FLUCTUATED UNUSUALLY AND THE ALTIMETER WAS SLUGGISH. ON HIS APPROACH TO LAND THE PILOT REPORTED NOTICING THAT HE WAS LOWER THAN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THE WEATHER WAS VMC BUT IT WAS A DARK NIGHT. ABOUT 75 FT SHORT OF THE RWY THRESHOLD THE ACFTS PROPELLER, FUSELAGE AND LANDING GEAR HIT AND KNOCKED DOWN PART OF A CHAIN LINK FENCE, INCLUDING A STEEL POST. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE PROPELLER HIT THE DIRT BANK. THE ACFT BOUNCED AND LANDED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE FT SHORT OF THE RWY. IT SLID DOWN THE RWY AND TO THE SIDE AN UNDETERMINED DISTANCE. (IT WAS MOVED PRIOR TO INVESTIGATION.) EXAMINATION OF THE PITOT STATIC SYSTEM REVEALED ABOUT 3 TABLESPOONSFUL OF WATER TRAPPED IN THE LINES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:30 EDT
Nearest AirportFREEWAY (0nm N)
Runway18
Runway Length2150 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20K
Tail NumberN9872Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-GB · Reciprocating · 210
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind140° @ 5 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 52
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data