Hilton Head Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hilton Head, South Carolina 29926
Tuesady, July 24, 2012 11:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that during the landing roll on runway 21, the airplane encountered a strong crosswind and veered sharply to the left. He attempted to correct the movement with aileron and rudder inputs and by retracting the flaps. The airplane continued left, departed the left side of the runway, and the left wing struck a taxiway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing. The recorded wind was from 250 degrees at 6 knots about the time of the accident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, nor did the pilot report any.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/2012
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1110
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Hilton Head
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29926
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 321216N
Event Location Longitude 0804130W
Event Location Airport Hilton Head Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HXD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 19
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID KHXD
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KHXD 241450Z 25006KT 10SM SKC 31/22 A3009
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30377
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 5 2012 3:51PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N212D
NTSB Number ERA12CA476
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY AIRPLANE CO INC
Aircraft Model M20TN
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 31-0126
Certified Max Gross Weight 3368
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 18 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 325
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name PITTSBURGH VEIN CENTER LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PITTSBURGH
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 15238-1603
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name PLAZA-PONTE MARIO THOMAS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City PITTSBURGH
Operator State PA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 15238-1603
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FXE
Departure City Fort Lauderdale
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 850
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code HXD
Destination City Hilton Head
Destination State SC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 5 2012 3:51PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 4300
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --