Mooney M20J N8201R accident near Montauk, New York

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate glide path during the landing approach in terrain induced turbulence, resulting in a hard landing and subsequent runway excursion.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that while on final approach to the runway, after passing over some high terrain, he encountered turbulence, and the airplane began to sink “very fast.” The pilot increased engine power to arrest the sink rate, however, the airplane was too low resulting in a hard landing on the runway. After the hard landing, the pilot reported the airplane first went to the right, followed by a left turn and runway excursion into bushes. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the right aileron. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA24LA317 for the full record.