N5254G

On December 21, 2017, about 1900 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20K, N5254G, was substantially damaged during landing at Venice Municipal Airport (VNC), Venice, Florida. The private pilot was not injured. Night, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that departed Darlington County Airport (UDG), Darlington, South Carolina. The flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.The pilot stated he departed Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW), Beckley, West Virginia, landed at UDG for fuel. He then departed for VNC and was receiving traffic advisory services from air traffic control (ATC). While on approach to VNC, he descended from 8,500 ft to 4,000 ft to get under a layer of scattered clouds. The pilot stated that he wasn't sure exactly when he moved the airplane's landing gear position selector, but that it was his normal procedure to extend the landing gear 10 miles from the destination airport in order to help slow the airplane.

He continued the descent and disengaged the autopilot. About 1,200 ft above ground level he was "dodging clouds" and heard the pilot of a Cessna request a "pop-up" instrument flight rules clearance to VNC from ATC because there was sea fog in the vicinity of the airport. The pilot then decided to descend further to stay under the clouds and fog. He was then advised by ATC to climb immediately to 2,000 ft and follow the Cessna into VNC. He stated while on approach he extended the flaps and used speed brakes to slow slow the airplane. He also reduced the throttle in order to avoid overtaking the Cessna. At that time the landing gear horn activated. He then applied a small amount of throttle and the horn stopped. The subsequent landing proceeded normally until just after the flare when the pilot heard a scraping noise. After the airplane came to a stop on the runway, the pilot shut off the electrical power and exited the airplane.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and noted that the during the landing airplane had slid along the runway on its belly for about 400 feet before coming to a stop. The inspector noted substantial damage to the lower fuselage stringers, the propeller, and nose landing gear door. The landing gear circuit breaker was open, and the landing gear selector was in the down position. Both main landing gear were only extended about 1-inch out of their respective wing wheel wells. During recovery from the runway the airplane was placed on jacks and the landing gear was lowered using the emergency gear extension system without incident. Damage to the landing gear extension system prevented further functional testing.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He reported 216 hours of total flight experience. His most recent application for an FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on November 30, 2017.

The automated weather observing system at VNC was out of service at the time of the accident. The weather conditions reported at the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), Sarasota, Florida, which was located about 21 miles north of the accident site, included wind from 280° at 4 knots, visibility 9 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 22° C, dew point 22° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.10 inches of mercury.

When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated in part, "Divert to Sarasota where the weather was reported to be clear, no sea fog rolling about. By design, I had 2.5 hours of fuel remaining on board when I arrived at VNC, I did not need to land when I did."