On November 26, 1997, a Mooney M20J (registration N201LY) operated by Charles L. Sours, Jr. was involved in an aviation accident near Summerland Key, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to flare the airplane for landing. The gusty crosswind was a related factor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During landing at Summerland Key, the pilot encountered a gust of wind, causing the left landing gear to break. The aircraft went off the runway, hitting power line poles and a stilt structure.
Accident Details
According to the pilot, while landing at Summerland Key, a gust of wind of about 15 knots arose. The pilot stated that he lowered the left wing into the gust to maintain the runway centerline. The airplane touched down on the left landing gear, which subsequently broke. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway. The left wing tip struck a transmission line pole, followed by another pole. The airplane came to rest after striking a stilt structure under a house.
Weather Information
A weather report from Marathon, Florida, indicated wind from 050 degrees at 8 knots. No gusts were reported. The runway at Summerland Key is oriented at 120 degrees.