Event MIA90IA005

1989-10-06 PENSACOLA, Florida, United States Airport · PNS None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N52DB

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

MOONEY M20F

Engine

LYCOMING I0360 SER A&C (200 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A686E2

Registrant of record

SMITH TERRY

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N52DB Mooney M20F None

Probable cause & findings

IMPROPER RIGGING OF THE LANDING GEAR WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERLOAD FAILURE.

Factual narrative

TWO DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT, THE LANDING GEAR ACTUATOR & COMPONENTS OF THE LANDING GEAR WERE REPLACED & THE GEAR RIGGING WAS CHECKED. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN ON SEVERAL LEGS. AFTER GEAR EXTENSION, THE OWNER HEARD A POPPING NOISE, THOUGH THE GEAR EXTENDED NORMALLY. MAINT FACILITY PRESIDENT ADVISED IT WAS NORMAL. THE FLT DEPARTED & EN ROUTE WAS UNEVENTFUL, BUT AFTER EXTENDING THE LANDING GEAR, THE SAME NOISE WAS HEARD. AFTER TOUCHDOWN DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. ACFT WAS FERRIED TO A FACILITY FOR REPAIRS. EXAM OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED THAT THE LANDING GEAR ACTUATOR SUPPORT BRACKET FAILED IN TENSION OVERLOAD. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_MIA90IA005.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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