Mooney M20J accident near Romeoville, Illinois, February 19, 2011
On February 19, 2011 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N888DF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Romeoville, Illinois (Lewis University Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The collapse of the left main landing gear during the landing roll for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 2011 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Romeoville, Illinois · Lewis University Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N888DF · registry record · serial 24-3254
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the left main landing gear collapsed shortly after touchdown during the landing roll. The airplane subsequently veered to the left and struck a runway edge identifier light. A postaccident examination confirmed that the left main landing gear had partially collapsed into its wheel well. The nose and right main landing gear remained fully extended. Damage sustained to the push-pull tubes that extend and retract the main landing gear precluded the determination of why the left landing gear collapsed. However, the observed damage to the push-pull tubes was likely attributable to the collapse of the left landing gear during the accident sequence. With the exception of the damaged push-pull tubes, there were no additional mechanical or rigging anomalies found with the landing gear extension/retraction system. Additionally, the landing gear position warning horn, instrument panel indicator lights, and floor-mounted visual/mechanical indicator functioned as designed, providing proper indication that the landing gear was in the fully extended position before landing.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Malfunction
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 183 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 183 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 28, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 23, 2010; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-A4B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dlm Holding Group, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KBEH Benton Harbor MI at 2:30 pm
- Destination: KLOT Romeoville IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 6,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.38 inHg
- Observation at 3:03 pm from KLOT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.