What happened
On 26 August 1999, a Mooney M20J, registration N909RM, was performing a private flight when it encountered difficulties during its landing at Eddsfield. The aircraft was attempting to land on Runway 27, which consisted of a dry grass surface. At the time of the incident, the surface wind was recorded at 240°/10 kt, producing a 5 kt crosswind component.
As the aircraft touched down, it experienced a drift toward the right side of the runway. During this phase of the landing, the starboard main landing gear failed. This collapse caused the aircraft to veer to the right before subsequently turning to the left, eventually coming to a halt off the left side of the runway. All four occupants, including the pilot and three passengers, were able to evacuate the aircraft through the door without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The examination focused on the sequence of the touchdown and the mechanical failure of the landing gear. The inspection of the aircraft revealed damage to the wing tips and the underside of the tail, alongside the collapsed starboard undercarriage.