San Jose, CA, USA
N411JL
MOONEY M20TN
While on approach for landing at the initial airport, the pilot reported encountering gusty wind conditions. The airplane landed hard and bounced back into the air, and the pilot initiated a go-around. During the go-around the airplane struck brush, a runway end identifier light box, and a taxi way light. The pilot did a flyby of the tower, and tower personnel indicated that the landing gear did not appear to be down, and that he should divert to an alternate airport for the emergency landing. The pilot diverted to an alternate airport, and performed a flyby of the tower. Tower personnel reported that the landing gear appeared down. After the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear collapsed, followed by the left main and nose landing gear. The airplane skidded down the runway, coming to rest upright. The fuselage, both wings, and the horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane during the initial landing attempt.
On June 20, 2009, about 1318 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20TN, N411JL, experienced a landing gear collapse after touch down at the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), San Jose, California. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings, as well as the horizontal stabilizer. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that departed the Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL), South Lake Tahoe, California, about 1100. No flight plan had been filed. The flight had been destined for the Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (PAO), Palo Alto, California. According to the pilot, while on approach to PAO, he encountered gusty wind conditions. During the landing, the airplane touched down and bounced, and he initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane's landing gear struck the brush off the left side of the runway. The pilot overflew the airport, and PAO tower personnel indicated that the right landing gear did not appear to be fully deployed, and that he should divert to SJC. According to PAO airport operation's personnel, the airplane also struck a runway end identifier light (REIL) box, and a taxi way light. The pilot diverted to SJC, and overflew the runway. Tower personnel reported that it appeared that the landing gear was down. After the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear collapsed, followed by the left and nose landing gear. The airplane skidded down the runway before coming to rest upright on the runway. In the pilot's written report, he indicated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions resulting in a collision with an airport sign.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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