NTSB Factual Report

On October 1, 2002, at 1040 central daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N22RJ, collided with the terrain following a loss of control while landing on runway 18 (3,899 feet by 150 feet, asphalt) at the Merrill C. Meigs Airport (CGX), Chicago, Illinois. The private pilot and his pilot rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The flight originated from Madison, Wisconsin, at 1000.

The pilot reported they approached the airport from the north over Navy Pier. He stated the winds were fine until they were approximately one mile out from the airport at which time they became gusty. The pilot reported he flew the approach with flaps down and at an airspeed of 80 knots. He reported that on touchdown, the airplane bounced and veered to the left. He applied power to go-around; however, the airplane continued to veer left. The left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane spun around coming to rest on a northerly heading.

A weather observation taken at CGX, 10 minutes prior to the accident, reported the wind condition as 240 degrees at 10 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind, and his failure to maintain directional control.