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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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May 2, 1982 · Mooney M20A · N7836C

San Antonio, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 2, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries), 2 uninjured
Location
San Antonio, TX
Aircraft
Mooney M20A
Tail Number
N7836C
Operator
Charles W Kern
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW82FRG28

During arrival, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 30 with a 7 knot tailwind. On final approach, he was not satisfied with his pattern and elected to go-around. During the go-around and climb, a map and checklist fell into the recess between the seats and interfered with the gear handle. The pilot continued in the pattern while removing the articles. He thought that he had lowered the gear prior to the next landing. However, witnesses reported that on the second approach, the aircraft touched down with the gear up. The pilot initiated another go-around and pulled up to clear obstacles beyond the end of the runway. However, the left wing of the aircraft hit trees and a house top. The aircraft then struck a telephone pole as it crashed. A number of propeller slash marks and a four inch wind scrape mark were found about 500 to 700 ft down the 1800 ft runway. In this aircraft, the gear is extended by raising the gear handle and retracted by lowering the handle.

Full Narrative

DURING ARRIVAL, THE PILOT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR A LANDING ON RUNWAY 30 WITH A 7 KNOT TAILWIND. ON FINAL APPROACH, HE WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH HIS PATTERN AND ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND AND CLIMB, A MAP AND CHECKLIST FELL INTO THE RECESS BETWEEN THE SEATS AND INTERFERED WITH THE GEAR HANDLE. THE PILOT CONTINUED IN THE PATTERN WHILE REMOVING THE ARTICLES. HE THOUGHT THAT HE HAD LOWERED THE GEAR PRIOR TO THE NEXT LANDING. HOWEVER, WITNESSES REPORTED THAT ON THE SECOND APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE GEAR UP. THE PILOT INITIATED ANOTHER GO-AROUND AND PULLED UP TO CLEAR OBSTACLES BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HOWEVER, THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT HIT TREES AND A HOUSE TOP. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AS IT CRASHED. A NUMBER OF PROPELLER SLASH MARKS AND A FOUR INCH WIND SCRAPE MARK WERE FOUND ABOUT 500 TO 700 FT DOWN THE 1800 FT RUNWAY. IN THIS AIRCRAFT, THE GEAR IS EXTENDED BY RAISING THE GEAR HANDLE AND RETRACTED BY LOWERING THE HANDLE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:48 CDT
Nearest AirportTWINOAKS (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20A
Tail NumberN7836C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCharles W Kern
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries), 2 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total4
Crew 1Age 51 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 7 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point17 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data