Mooney M20F accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, August 11, 2008
On August 11, 2008 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N9137V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Ridgeland, South Carolina (Ridgeland Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during landing. A factor contributing to the accident was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2008 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgeland, South Carolina · Ridgeland Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9137V · no longer on the register · serial 690034
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 21, and noticed that the wind sock was "straight out and quartering." He reported that at his altitude of 1,000 feet, there was "moderate to severe turbulence," and he initially entertained returning to the departure airport, but instead decided to continue the approach and landing. While on final approach, the pilot crabbed the airplane to the right, and held it there until the airplane was about 5 feet above the ground, before he leveled the wings. He began the landing over runway centerline, but the wind pushed the airplane "hard to the left" until the landing gear was over the runway edge lights. The pilot again considered aborting the landing, but then the landing gear struck an unknown object, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane came to rest shortly thereafter, with substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The reported winds at an airport 14 nautical miles east of the accident location, and about 40 minutes after the accident, were from 150 degrees at 6 knots, with gusts to 15 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
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 73J Beaufort SC at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 3J1 Ridgeland SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,692 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; a few clouds at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from NBC, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.