# Accident 20030914023179A: Mooney M20J, West Palm Beach, FL, September 14, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 14, 2003, 17:20 local time
- Place: West Palm Beach, FL
- Airport: Palm Beach International
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.0933° N, 79.8867° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0933&lon=-79.8867&mi=10
- Aircraft: N205Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N205Z-2017-06-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Reported engine: CONT IO360*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 8,900 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA03LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA182) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030914023179A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT CANCELLED FLIGHT FOLLOWING WITH PBI APPROACH, THEN CALLED BACK AND STATED HE HAD PAIN IN BACK OF HEAD, LOSS OF VISION, TURNED A/C EAST AND HEADED TOWARDS OPEN OCEAN, WITNESS A/C OBSERVED A/C CLIMB DIVE, THEN PROCEEDED VERTICALLY INTO WATER. (-23 ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE) PILOT WAS OPERATING AIRCRAFT WITHOUT A VALID MEDIAL CERTIFICATE. PILOT COMPLAINED OF PHYSICAL PROBLEMS WHICH IMPAIRED HIS ABILITY TO CONTROL AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED WATER AND WAS DESTROYED. PILOT'S BODY WAS NOT RECOVERED. NTSB IS CONTINUING INVESTIGATION.

## 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 MIA03LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA182), Sep 14, 2003: Mooney M20J (N205Z), Atlantic Ocean, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Pilot incapacitation due to a cardiovascular event which led to loss of control and subsequent impact with water.

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.

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