ATSB occurrence brief: Mooney M20J Mt Isa 20/08/25

[red750]

A new ATSB occurrence brief details a wheels-up landing involving a Mooney M20J at Mt Isa Airport.

--What happened--
On 20 August 2025, a Mooney M20J, with a pilot and 2 passengers on board, was landing at Mount Isa Airport, Queensland following a private flight. The pilot reported that, at the time, the wind was gusty with some crosswind on the airport’s single runway. After discontinuing the first landing attempt, the pilot circled and conducted a second approach, targeting a landing speed of 65‍–‍70 kt. Subsequently, the aircraft landed and began to decelerate. 

 

Consistent with their normal procedure, the pilot raised the flap and turned off the fuel pump. The pilot reported that they then mistakenly moved the landing gear lever from the down to the up position. As a result, the landing gear started to retract while the aircraft was on the runway.

Recognising the situation, the pilot applied full power and raised the nose, resulting in the aircraft becoming airborne again. The aircraft banked left and climbed briefly before the pilot lowered the nose. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground to the left of the runway and slid for several metres before coming to a stop. The pilot and passengers exited the aircraft without injuries, and the aircraft was substantially damaged.

The aircraft’s maintenance manual stated that the aircraft was equipped with an airspeed‑activated landing gear safety system that was designed to prevent the gear from retracting when the aircraft was below 60 kt (±5 kt) indicated airspeed and airspeed was increasing. The manual further advised that when landing, the system may not engage until below 50 kt, and could allow the landing gear to retract if the gear switch was placed in the up position during the landing roll.

--Safety message--
This accident serves as a reminder to pilots that incidents and accidents can occur at any time during the operation of an aircraft, including the landing roll. Maintaining awareness, in conjunction with the consistent use of procedures, checklists and flows, minimises the opportunity for inadvertent or mistaken manipulation of an aircraft’s controls or systems.

--About this report--
Decisions regarding whether to conduct an investigation, and the scope of an investigation, are based on many factors, including the level of safety benefit likely to be obtained from an investigation. For this occurrence, no investigation has been conducted and the ATSB did not verify the accuracy of the information. A brief description has been written using information supplied in the notification and any follow-up information in order to produce a short summary report, and allow for greater industry awareness of potential safety issues and possible safety actions.

 

[Thruster88]

Lucky they did not enter a low level stall spin in an attempt to "save" the aircraft. Don't have to be very high to die in such an event.   

[turboplanner]

First attempt would have upped the stress meter.

Understandable mistake.

Sometimes it's better to go away for 15 mins to settle down, refocus.

[BurnieM]

Do you need ro raise the flaps and turn off the secondary fuel pump while still on the runway ?

 

If it is non-important would it not be a good idea to leave it until you are more relaxed taxiing back.

 

 

[facthunter]

Some people raise the flaps to make braking more effective AND  WHY locate the Levers close together? Any how when you MOVE any control THINK about what it does.' Also Incidents such as this one is the Main  reason I have never used Mt ISA as an alternate. SINGLE runway and miles from anywhere and you need all of it. Nev

[turboplanner]

5 hours ago, BurnieM said:

Do you need ro raise the flaps and turn off the secondary fuel pump while still on the runway ?

 

If it is non-important would it not be a good idea to leave it until you are more relaxed taxiing back.

 

 

Well in the cities, departing the runway, but out in the country raising them as soon as you slow protects you from roots, undergowth flicking up, rocks etc., bog holes where a wheel drops in lowering the wing.

[BurnieM]

I understand the cross wind complication but I am seeing an 8000ft sealed runway at Mt Isa.

 

[facthunter]

At the temps there you need most of that for an RPT. The issue is single runway and having a damaged Plane on part of it. Nev