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WPR18CA085

2018-02-06 · Newport, Oregon, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport KONP

Current FAA registration · N925JH

Make / Model
MOONEY M20J
Year of manufacture
1994 · 24 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING I0360 SER A&C (200 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19940321
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ACD18D

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's improper approach and landing flare in dark night, which resulted in a bounced landing.

Factual narrative

The commercial pilot reported that during a night personal flight, he was cleared for an instrument landing system approach. The pilot disconnected the autopilot at 1,500 ft mean sea level (msl), and he had the runway in site at 1,000 ft msl. The pilot reported that the approach was continued, and the airplane crossed the runway threshold too high and fast. When the airplane touched down, it bounced at least twice before he added power in an effort to regain control. On the third or fourth bounce, the right main and nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid off the side of the runway, coming to rest on the grass. The right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The commercial pilot reported that, during a night personal flight, he was cleared for an instrument landing system approach. The pilot disconnected the autopilot at 1,500 ft mean sea level (msl), and he had the runway in sight at 1,000 ft msl. The pilot reported that the approach was continued, and the airplane crossed the runway threshold too high and fast. When the airplane touched down, it bounced at least twice before he added power in an effort to regain control. On the third or fourth bounce, the right main and nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid off the side of the runway, coming to rest on the grass. The right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • F Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Effect on operation - F

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_WPR18CA085.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (autopilot). All research papers