N8201R, 1978 M20J, Hard Landing 7/14/24 Montauk, NY (KMTP) - Salvage/Auction

[1980Mooney]

Accident Mooney M20J N8201R, Sunday 14 July 2024 (flightsafety.org)

Aircraft landed hard and departed side of runway and into bushes.  If you look at ADSBExchange, it was quite slow on Final.  His last recorded Groundspeed was 57 kts flying into a 10/16 kts 60 degree crosswind.

• The aircraft sustained damage to the engine and propeller from the blade strikes and will require an engine teardown inspection.  Additionally, damage was sustained to the empennage, both main landing gear, the wing on both sides, the step, and belly skins.
• If you look at the pictures, both main landing gear have been punched through the wings.
• It could be a stall a few feet above the runway followed by departure or shearing forces on the main landing gear after sliding off the runway.

Sadly (or interestingly to a buyer especially in this Lycoming starved environment):

• The engine only had 66 hours on it since Overhaul.  
• The nose gear did not collapse, and the blades don't look bent in the pics so the prop strike might have just been with bushes rather than runway.
• The airframe only had 1,910 hours on it although it is much more mangled.

Microsoft Word - Nasso - AIRCRAFT SALVAGE Sheet (tmhcc.com)

Bids Due Nov. 15

[1980Mooney]

BTW - The NTSB has indicated that it will investigate.

Preliminary Report number: ERA24LA317

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194743/pdf

Also:

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ab3366&lat=41.086&lon=-71.913&zoom=14.2&showTrace=2024-07-14&trackLabels&timestamp=1720982044

[1980Mooney]

Final is out.   https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194743/pdf

Although the analysis did not highlight it, experience and proficiency is likely an issue.  The pilot/owner purchased/registered the plane in January 2022 and the accident was 2.5 years later in July 2024.  In the Accident Report, the pilot/owner reported that had flown the Mooney make and the J model a total of 42 hours.  That is less than 17 hours per year.  The pilot/owner reported that he had flown only 2 hours in the last 90 days.  

I suspect that we all wish we could fly more.  I know I struggle to find time.  For some both lack of time and resources can be an impediment.  It is easy to get rusty.

Analysis
The pilot reported that while on final approach to the runway, after passing over some high terrain, he encountered turbulence, and the airplane began to sink “very fast.” The pilot increased engine power to arrest the sink rate, however, the airplane was too low resulting in a hard landing on the runway. After the hard landing, the pilot reported the airplane first went to the right, followed by a left turn and runway excursion into bushes. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the right aileron. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation

Probable Cause 

The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate glide path during the landing approach in terrain induced turbulence, resulting in a hard landing and subsequent runway excursion.

Findings

• Aircraft Descent/approach/glide path - Not attained/maintained
• Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
• Environmental issues Terrain induced turbulence - Response/compensation

 

Edited December 5, 2024 by 1980Mooney