Mooney M20K N252MX

Summary

On 24 July 2008 at about 01:30 local time, a Mooney M20K registered N252MX was involved in an accident near Chehalis, Washington, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 July 2008 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Chehalis, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Chehalis-Centralia (CLS)

Coordinates

46.6769, -122.9828

Aircraft

Mooney M20K

Registration

N252MX

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Aurora → Chehalis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX08CA247

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to lower the landing gear, resulting in a gear up landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was performing a straight in approach to the runway and he reduced power and extended the speed brakes as he descended. He also made several radio calls. When the airplane was about 5 miles from the runway, the pilot performed the pre-landing checklist, which he said includes putting the gear down. He reported that he intentionally left the gear retracted to keep more speed on the approach. When he was 3 miles from the runway, the pilot began a conversation over the radio with another pilot who was departing the airport. He stated that he became distracted by the conversation and did not remember to lower the landing gear. The airplane touched down in the middle of the runway with the gear retracted and sustained structural damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.