N201ZZ

Substantial
None

MOONEY M20JS/N: 24-0745

Accident Details

Date
Friday, March 25, 2011
NTSB Number
ERA11CA212
Location
St. Petersburg, FL
Event ID
20110326X12130
Coordinates
27.764999, -82.626945
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
MOONEY
Serial Number
24-0745
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
M20JM20P
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
4
FAA Model
M20J

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
SKY WEST AVIATION INC TRUSTEE
Address
2523 STIEGLITZ AVE SE
City
ALBUQUERQUE
State / Zip Code
NM 87106-9605
Country
United States

Analysis

According to the pilot, he was landing on runway 18 at a bayside airport with winds reported from the tower as being from 270 degrees at 15 knots. The airplane touched down on the "main wheels," and the pilot held control yoke back-pressure until the nose wheel touched down. The airplane then veered 90 degrees to the left, "did a small skip/bounce," departed the runway, and crossed a grassy area. It then struck a seawall, went over it, and came to rest nose-down, almost vertically, with salt water almost to the cockpit. The left wing and the fuselage were substantially damaged. Neither the pilot nor the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported any preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Winds were also recorded at the airport 1 minute before the accident as being from 240 degrees true at 10 knots. The airport had a runway 25, but it was closed at the time of the accident.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA11CA212