Mooney M20M accident near Poughkeepsie, New York, August 9, 2010
On August 9, 2010, a Mooney M20M, registered N9153Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Poughkeepsie, New York (Dutchess County 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing, loss of directional control and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 2010
- Place
- Poughkeepsie, New York · Dutchess County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20M · all M20Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9153Z · registry record · serial 27-0209
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he received an instrument flight rules clearance from air traffic control for a night global positioning system approach to runway 24 at his destination airport. Upon reaching the final approach fix, he turned the landing lights on, lowered the landing gear and extended the flaps to the full down position. He observed both alternator lights flicker, then remain illuminated. He continued the approach and flared the airplane higher than normal. The airplane landed hard and bounced several times. The pilot lost directional control of the airplane, and it departed the left side of the runway and came to rest upright in the grass. Examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the landing gear, right wing, and fuselage, consistent with ground impact. Weather, about the time of the accident, included clear skies and winds from 190 degrees true at 8 knots.
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
- Electrical system malf/failure during approach (IFR final approach)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › Alternator › generator drive sys › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 314 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 29, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,022 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 2010; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,240 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HTO East Hampton NY at 11:50 pm
- Destination: POU Poughkeepsie NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 5,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA10CA412.