Accident Details
On November 11, 2010, at approximately 1035 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20B, Canadian registration C-GFRP, sustained a landing gear collapse during landing at Marana Regional Airport, Marana, Arizona. The pilot, who owned the aircraft, was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, holding a Canadian certificate, and one passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to several fuselage bulkheads.
Flight History
The cross-country personal flight departed Phoenix Regional Airport, Maricopa, Arizona, at about 0915, with a planned destination of Marana Regional Airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported completing the landing checklist while on the downwind leg. The landing gear was down, flaps were deployed, and approach speed was maintained at 80 miles per hour for the base leg and final approach. While on final approach, he checked the gear lever, mixture, and propeller controls. The approach and touchdown were normal. After touchdown, the airplane came to a sudden stop. The pilot made a radio call announcing his position on the runway and his situation. He turned the magnetos and master switch off before exiting the airplane. The airplane was sitting on the centerline of runway 12 with no landing gear visible.
Examination Findings
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane. The aircraft was equipped with a manual gear system using a Johnson bar operating handle. The inspector determined that the handle was not in the fully locked position. Consequently, the landing gear was down but not locked. During the landing rollout, the gear collapsed into their normal retracted position. The airplane dropped to the ground and skidded on the belly of the fuselage.