N252A

On November 20, 1997, at 1850 central standard time (cst), a Mooney M20K, N252A, operated by a private pilot sustained substantial damage when on landing, the airplane struck seven runway lights at Flying Cloud Airport, Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91. An IFR flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Buffalo, New York, at 1700 eastern standard time (est).

In his written statement, the pilot said that he was executing the ILS to runway 09R at Flying Cloud Airport. The pilot described the weather as a ceiling of 300 feet overcast with a visibility of 1/2 mile in fog and mist. The pilot leveled off "a few feet above decision height after flying the glideslope." He said that he had trouble finding the runway lights due to the limited visibility. The pilot said that when he did see the lights, he was beyond the threshold of the runway and was not lined up properly with the center of the runway. The pilot touched down off the right edge of the runway striking several runway lights during the landing roll.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The airplane showed upward crushing to the lower right side of the bottom fuselage between the wings. The carry-through spar and control rods, between the wings, showed upward bending. The right forward landing gear door and exhaust muffler were bent inward and aft. The left main landing gear door was bent outboard and aft. One propeller blade showed some minor nicks and scratches on the leading edge approximately 6 inches inboard of the tip. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.