Probable cause
The pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impaired vision due to his broken eyeglasses.
NTSB analysis
The private pilot stated that, during the flight, the right lens fell out of his eyeglasses. Aware of powerlines at the approach end of the runway, and with his vision impaired, he flew a higher than normal landing approach to ensure obstacle clearance. The airplane subsequently landed long, exited the end of the runway, and impacted a stone mailbox, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN17LA198 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 28, 2017
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Lakeway, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Lakeway Airpark (3R9)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Mooney M20J
- N-number
- N211ZN
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1985
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.