Mooney M20F N9137V

Summary

On 11 August 2008 at about 17:15 local time, a Mooney M20F registered N9137V was involved in an accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 August 2008 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Ridgeland, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Ridgeland Airport (3J1)

Coordinates

32.4925, -80.9922

Aircraft

Mooney M20F

Registration

N9137V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beaufort → Ridgeland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08CA277

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during landing. A factor contributing to the accident was the crosswind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 21, and noticed that the wind sock was "straight out and quartering." He reported that at his altitude of 1,000 feet, there was "moderate to severe turbulence," and he initially entertained returning to the departure airport, but instead decided to continue the approach and landing. While on final approach, the pilot crabbed the airplane to the right, and held it there until the airplane was about 5 feet above the ground, before he leveled the wings. He began the landing over runway centerline, but the wind pushed the airplane "hard to the left" until the landing gear was over the runway edge lights. The pilot again considered aborting the landing, but then the landing gear struck an unknown object, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane came to rest shortly thereafter, with substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The reported winds at an airport 14 nautical miles east of the accident location, and about 40 minutes after the accident, were from 150 degrees at 6 knots, with gusts to 15 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.