Mooney M20M N9140M

Summary

On 18 March 2012 at about 19:30 local time, a Mooney M20M registered N9140M, operated by Donald Trizzino, was involved in an accident near Clearwater, Florida, 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

18 March 2012 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Clearwater, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Clearwater Air Park (CLW)

Coordinates

27.9767, -82.7586

Aircraft

Mooney M20M

Registration

N9140M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Donald Trizzino

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Naples → Clearwater

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12CA244

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to his distraction regarding another airplane in the traffic pattern.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, after entering the traffic pattern for landing, he noted that there were two other airplanes in the traffic pattern. As he announced his position on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he heard another pilot also announce his position at the same location. The accident pilot visually identified the other airplane, and that pilot reported that he would proceed behind the accident airplane to the runway. The accident pilot stated that he became preoccupied with locating the other airplane during the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and forgot to lower the landing gear. During touchdown, the propeller struck the runway, and the airplane skidded to a stop, which resulted in substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.