Mooney M20F N400EB

Summary

On 29 October 2009 at about 18:30 local time, a Mooney M20F registered N400EB, operated by Robert Hutchinson, was involved in an accident near Palm Springs, California, United States. 2 people were 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

29 October 2009 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Palm Springs, California, United States

Nearest airport

Bermuda Dunes Airport (UDD)

Coordinates

35.4006, -118.7595

Aircraft

Mooney M20F

Registration

N400EB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert Hutchinson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Monterey → Palm Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10CA038

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty crosswind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was on final approach and the pilot noted that the winds were affecting the airplane, but he did not believe it was significant enough to perform a go-around. The airplane was about 5 to 10 feet above the runway surface and it encountered a wind shear that pushed the left wing downward. Despite the pilot's efforts, he could not counteract the wind effects. The airplane ground looped with the left wing contacting the ground and it came to rest in the grass adjacent to the runway. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. A weather station 9 nautical miles from the accident site indicated that about 20 minutes after the accident winds were gusting from 14 to 19 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.