# Accident 19970911026119A: Mooney M20F, Coral Springs, FL, September 11, 1997 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 11, 1997, 08:01 local time - Place: Coral Springs, FL - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 26.3103° N, 80.2305° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.3103&lon=-80.2305&mi=10 - Aircraft: N6417Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6417Q-1999-04-01) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Mooney M20F (registry code 5870214, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F - Reported engine: LYC IO360A3B6 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 1 - Pilot flight hours: 8,700 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97FA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97FA242) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970911026119A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. LOST OIL PRESSURE ON CLIMBOUT. DRAGGED A WING IN A POND TRYING LAND IN A CLEARING. CARTWHEELED. ENGINE THRU A ROD. (.4) THE PASSENGER WHO IS A A&P MECHANIC STATED THAT ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 1,000 TO 1,500 FEET ON A NORTHERLY HEADING WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED, HE FIRST NOTED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO THEN RETURNED TO THE GREEN ARC. THE AIRPLANE WAS AT THAT TIME ABEAM THE POINT WHERE THE AIRPLANE EVENTUALLY CRASHED. THE PILOT NOTED THIS AND BEGAN ORBITING THE AREA. HE THEN HEARD A LOUD SOUND FROM THE ENGINE AND WHILE DESCENDING WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO A MAN-MADE POND RIGHT WING LOW. THE AIRPLANE THEN CARTWHEELED AND SANK IN ABOUT 17-20 FEET OF WATER. THE PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRPLANE OUT THE MAIN CABIN DOOR BUT THE PILOT DID NOT ESCAPE. HE WAS RESCUED ABOUT 12 MINUTES LATER BUT DIED IN A HOSPITAL DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED AND EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NO. 3 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD AND PISTON PIN END PLUGS FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. ALSO, A PARTICLE WAS FOUND IN THE OIL PASSAGE WAY OF THE CRANKSHAFT FOR THE NO. 1 CRANKPIN. THE ENGINE WAS LAST INSPECT ED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A 100-HOUR INSPECTION ABOUT 39 HOURS, AND 2 MONTHS AND 10 DAYS EARLIER. THE ENGINE WAS A FACTORY NEW ENGINE THAT WAS INSTALLED ON JULY 21, 1993 IN ACCORDANCE WITH A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE. REQUESTS WERE MADE FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT TO EXAMINE THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS; THEY WERE NOT PROVIDED. COPIES OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE FIRST PROVIDED TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD 1 YEAR AND 11 MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, BY THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER. THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER OBTAINED COPIES OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS FROM AN ATTORNEY RELATED TO THE CASE. THE NOS. 3 AND 1 CYLINDER PISTONS WERE INSTALLED IN THE OPPOSITE CYLINDERS. (-23) APPROX. 5 MINS. AFTER T/0 WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 1,000-1.500 FT THE ENGINE OIL PRESS. GAUGE WENT TO ZERO THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL RANGE. THE PILOT INITIATED A TURN TO THE RT.WHILE DESCENDING TO ATTEMPT TO LAND IN A CLEARING, THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH THE WATER. THE ACFT LANDED IN A LAKE AND SANK. THE PILOT WAS RESCUED @ 12 MINUTES AFTER SINKING. THE PASS. SWAM TO THE LAND. CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE REVEALED TNE NO. 3 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD FAILED AS WELL AS BOTH PISTON PIN PLUGS FOR THAT CYLINDER. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB MIA97FA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97FA242), Sep 11, 1997: Mooney M20F (N6417Q), Coral Springs, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudging the distance vs. altitude resulting in the collision with the water short of the intended touchdown point of the rough field. Contributing to the accident was the total loss of… From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.