Mooney M20D accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, January 24, 2003
On January 24, 2003 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Mooney M20D, registered N6639U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Casa Grande, Arizona (Casa Grande Municipal 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
Collapse of the landing gear during landing rollout, resulting from the pilot/mechanic's incorrect landing gear locking mechanism (linkage) adjustment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 2003 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Casa Grande, Arizona · Casa Grande Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20D · all M20Ds on the register
- Registration
- N6639U · no longer on the register · serial 134
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following a normal touchdown and during the rollout, the airplane's main landing gear collapsed. Thereafter, as the airplane slid to a stop it veered off the runway and collided with a runway light. The pilot reported that during his approach for landing, he had verified that the landing gear was extended. He had confirmed its extension by observing the green gear down lights illuminate. The pilot had previously performed maintenance to the landing gear system. The airplane had been operated for 4.77 hours since receiving its last annual inspection. According to the pilot, the gear collapsed due to an adjustment problem, which prevented the over-center linkage from completely locking. The FAA indicated that the pilot, who holds an airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate, had performed the landing gear related maintenance.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,261 hours in all; 235 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,092 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,834 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 2002; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGZ Casa Grande AZ at 5:45 pm
- Destination: CGZ Casa Grande AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from CGZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.