West Milford, NJ, USA
N231LS
Mooney M20K
The pilot flew from his home airport to another airport to drop off a friend, who was to pick up another airplane. When they landed at the other airport there was a nose wheel shimmy. The pilot shut the engine down at the fixed base operator, and both he and the other pilot got out to check the nose wheel. He could find nothing wrong, and when the friend was ready, they both departed in their separate airplanes to return to their home airport. When they arrived, the other airplane landed first. The accident pilot flew his approach to the 4,000 foot long runway 6, with the flaps set to 20 degrees. After touch down, the nose of the airplane veered to the right; however, he did not recall any shimmy of the nose wheel. He pulled back on the yoke to ease the nose up, but he pulled back too hard and the airplane became airborne again. He thought he would touch down on the runway again, but instead, the airplane landed between the runway and taxiway, and struck rocks. The pilot said he did not experience any other mechanical problems during the landing. The pilot estimated the winds to be variable at 5 knots. Winds reported at the other airport, about 30 miles northeast were from 120 at 7 knots.
On April 10, 2003, about 2040 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20K, N231LS, was substantially damaged during landing at the Greenwood Lake Airport (4N1), West Milford, New Jersey. The certificated airline transport pilot received serious injuries. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated at the Stewart International Airport (SWF), Newburgh, New York. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he flew from 4N1to SWF, to drop off a friend to pick up another airplane. When they landed at SWF, there was a nose wheel shimmy. He shut the engine down at the fixed base operator, and both he and the other pilot got out to check the nose wheel. He could find nothing wrong, and when the friend was ready, they both departed in their separate airplanes to return to 4N1. When they arrived back near 4N1, there was a delay entering the New York ADIZ, and the subsequent landing of both airplanes took place after sunset. The other airplane landed first, followed by N231LS. The pilot flew his approach to runway 6 with the flaps set to 20 degrees. After touch down, the nose of the airplane veered to the right; however, he did not recall any shimmy of the nose wheel. He pulled back on the yoke to ease the nose up, but he pulled back too hard and the airplane became airborne again. He thought he would touch down on the runway again, but instead, the airplane landed between the runway and taxiway, and struck rocks. The left main gear was driven up through the wing and the nose wheel and propeller were also damaged. The pilot did not experience any other mechanical problems during the landing. He said he had been flying the airplane about twice a month for the past 15 years. The pilot estimated the winds to be variable at 5 knots. Winds reported at 2045, at SWF, were from 120 at 7 knots.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind and his failure to maintain directional control. Factors in the accident were the crosswind and landing at night.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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