No fatalities

16 Apr 2018: MOONEY M20R NO SERIES — San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, TX, United States
SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported encountering a tailwind gust on landing, underestimated the wind conditions, and the airplane exited the runway and struck an embankment, sustaining substantial left-wing damage.

Accident Details

According to the pilot, the airplane encountered a tailwind gust during landing. The pilot frequented the airport and stated that landing with a tailwind was common practice due to the preferred upsloping runway. He asserted that he underestimated the significance of the wind conditions and that when the airplane touched down, it was too late to abort the landing.

The airplane's ground speed was too fast, causing it to exit the departure end of the runway and collide with an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

Pilot Report

No mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation were reported by the pilot.

Weather Conditions

The METAR at the nearest airport, located 2 nautical miles from the accident site, reported that about the time of the accident the wind was from 160° at 17 knots, gusting to 24 knots. The pilot landed on runway 30.

Contributing factors

PilotEffect on equipmentEffect on operation